13 



may be rubbed off on the pistil by touching it with the 

 anthers of a freshly opened bloom. It should then be 

 covered again for a few days. 



In all such efforts the foundation melon should be selected 

 for its flavor, and other qualities bred upon that founda- 

 tion. In attaining the ends sought uniformity of size should 

 always be considered. No plan of selling that sends to 

 market various sizes jumbled together will ever give general 

 satisfaction. 



Picking Melons. 



Roughly speaking, most cantaloupes start to loosen from 

 the vine at the stem when ripening. Sometimes this is first 

 detected bj^ a drop or two of juice that oozes from the junc- 

 tion of the fruit and stem. Again the bottom of the canta- 

 loupe, being on the ground, generally looks greenish v^hite 

 while the melon is unripe, but takes on a creamy tint ap- 

 proaching yellow, when ripe. 



There is also, generally, a slight change in color discernible 

 under the netting, the deep, dark green changing to an olive 

 green. A little experience as a picker will soon obviate the 

 necessity of any rules. A glance will tell one the stage of 

 the fruit. 



Marketing. 



This is a weak spot in present-day agriculture. There 

 are certain principles to consider and they classify them- 

 selves under two heads, — honesty and efficiency. 



Honesty on the part of a melon grower is even more es- 

 sential than with growers of other farm products, because 

 the quahty of the fruit does not appear until it is opened. 

 The responsibihty of seeing that his customers get good 

 melons, therefore, rests wholly on the grower. The tempta- 

 tion is constant to let melons slip by the sorter that look 

 passable, but contain nothing but disappointment to the 

 buyer. This is both a foolish and unprofitable policy. The 

 grower's name should go with the goods, and his name 

 should mean quality. The goods should be so graded in 

 respect to size as to facilitate selling, making pricing con- 

 venient. Three sizes are generally made, — Pony, Stand- 

 ard and Jumbo. 



