THE IEEIGATION AGE. 



303 



There is a marked contrast between the products 

 of carelessly selected and pedigreed, i. e., carefully se- 

 lected, melon seed; the one is inclined to be irregular 

 in size and form, with the netting thin and often want- 

 ing, and with a decided tendency to ripen prematurely, 



nately for the industry, the quality of this supply is 

 not what it should be. It is principally produced from 

 the cull piles. 



After frost, at the close of the shipping season, 

 everything in the line of a cantaloupe, green or ripe, 



PLATE in. 



turning yellow and soft, a loss not uncommonly of 

 20 to 40 per cent in culls, while choice seed produces 

 melons that are uniform in size and shape, the netting 

 thick and complete, the marketable stage more pro- 

 longed and practically no loss in culls. 



large or small, is gathered and run through a melon- 

 seeder with no attempt at selection. 



This seed is bought by the jobber and seedsman 

 for 10 to 20 cents per pound, and when it is on the 

 market it can not be distinguished from well-selected 



PLATE IV. 



The wide reputation of the Rocky Ford canta- 

 loupe has created a great demand for Eocky Ford seed, 

 as it is claimed to produce a higher grade of canta- 

 loupes than seed from other States, and each year large 

 quantities are saved to. fill this demand, but, unfortu- 



seed, and doubtless is sold as such. 



There would be nothing to commend such seed to 

 any practical grower if he realized its source. 



As the seed market has been so abused, to procure 

 good seed one must either save it himself or have seen 



