HARVESTING AXh MARKETING MELONS 57 



acre is given at from 800 to 1,200 marketable 

 melons. This will depend very much upon the sea- 

 son, whether favorable or unfavorable, and also 

 upon the soil, the kind and quantity of fertilizers 

 used, as well as the care and cultivation given the 

 plants. The net income depends not only upon the 

 above considerations, but also upon the distance 

 from market and the shipping facilities furnished 

 by the railroads. For example, one of the southern 

 states reports a larger yield per acre than does New 

 Jersey, but the net income per acre is very much 

 less, owing, doubtless, to the fact that the New 

 Jersey growers are located close to one of the best 

 markets in the country, and so are able to place 

 their melons on the market at a comparatively small 

 expense. A grower in the middle West says that a 

 good acre of watermelons will produce about 800 

 salable melons. It will require 1,200 to fill an aver- 

 age car, and the price will average about $80 per 

 carload. This is about 6 l / 2 cents each, which would 

 give $52 per acre. Deducting $15 for rent and 

 labor, would leave a net profit over all expenses of 

 $37. The same grower gives $56 per acre as the net 

 income from cantaloupes during favorable seasons. 

 Another grower says a carload of watermelons per 

 acre can be easily produced with good care, which 

 will bring from $70 to $90 per car, while under just 

 ordinary care one-half that amount is all that can 

 be expected. Occasionally $100 to $150 per acre 

 is realized, but not often. So much depends upon 

 the care exercised by the shipper in getting the crop 

 properly distributed so as to avoid losses by glutting 

 the market. 



Marketing. Several methods are practiced by 



