CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 375 



No. 2. The extent to which the netting is developed is 

 more important than the absolute amount of netting in 

 determining whether a given specimen shall be graded 

 as a No. 2 or a cull. Melons in which the netting is very 

 poorly developed, as well as those without any netting, 

 should be classed as culls. Cracked and overripe speci- 

 mens must be graded as culls, even though of fine qual- 

 ity, for they would be likely to spoil before reaching 

 the consumer." 



A great variety of styles and sizes of packages is used 

 in marketing muskmelons. Figure 49, c, illustrates the 



FIG. 89. MUSKMELONS PACKED IN CLIMAX BASKETS 



standard crate, which holds 45 melons, and is used by 

 growers in Colorado and many other states. One of the 

 best packs is the climax basket (Figure 89.) The dimen- 

 sions of this basket used in Illinois (111. Sta. Bui. 124, p. 

 306) are as follows: Width of bottom, 6 inches; length 

 of bottom, i6 l / 2 inches; width of top, packed, 7^ to 

 8>^ inches; length of top, 18^ inches; depth (not in- 

 cluding cover), 6}4 inches. 



Smaller sizes of crates than the standard size are 



