10 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 172 



The first female blossoms to appear were suppressed for two 

 reasons: first, that the plants might gain more strength before 

 fruiting; second, in order that three or four flowers may open on 

 each vine simultaneously, and when pollinated would develop 

 fruits more even in size than if the flowers are pollinated with a 

 few days' difference between. Oftentimes if one fruit gets too 

 much of a lead it is somewhat difficult to get other melons to set 

 on the vine owing to the fact that the nutriment is being rapidly 

 acquired in development of the first fruit set. 



Throughout the entire period of growth watering and ventila- 

 tion were carefully attended to, water being applied to the beds 

 early in the morning. As the melons arrived at maturity, which 

 is first noticeable by the change of color in the skin of some 

 varieties and by the aroma, also by the stem of the melon com- 

 mencing to crack and lift from the fruit, — this latter is a sure 

 sign the melon is approaching maturity, — the fruits were cut and 

 placed in a refrigerator before sampling them for quality, etc. 



In House No. 1 the vines on the center benches were trained 

 on a wooden A-shaped trellis, having wires stretched lengthwise 

 of the house at. a distance of 12 inches apart, and planted at a 

 distance of 3 feet apart. Plants grown on the side benches were 

 planted at the same distance apart and allowed to trail over the 

 benches as in outdoor culture, with the exception that stopping 

 or pinching was attended to in the same manner as when grown 

 on the trellis. 



In Houses No. 5 and No. 6 the plants were treated in a similar 

 manner, uniform growth being noticeable throughout. 



PARENT STOCK. 



Seeds of Sutton's Superlative melon were imported direct from 

 the originators, Sutton & Sons, Reading, England, this melon ^ 

 being the results of a cross between the varieties, ''Royal Favor- 

 ite" (white flesh), and "Westley Hall" (scarlet flesh). The 

 former variety bore fruits quite smooth, round and well netted, 

 while the latter was somewhat oval in shape and netted. Seeds 

 of Delices de la table were imported from INIessrs. Vilmorin & Sons, 

 Paris, France. Two varieties of cantaloupe melons are grown in 

 France, namelj'', the Prescott hatif a' chassis, and the Prescott 



Letter from Sutton & Sons dated February 7, 1914. 



