258 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Mr. T. V. Munson, of Texas, writes as follows in the Rural New Yorker. 

 on the subject of " Judging Melons " : 



"If musk-melons (not canteloupes) alone were in a country competition where the 

 farmers" families and local market used the crop, then I would be governed chiefly by size, 

 shape and general appearance, especially coloring and netting ; but if the competition were 

 among canteloupes, used at home in the local market, and for shipping to distant markets, 

 I would insist upon cutting, to compare thickness and firmness of flesh, and to taste for 

 (juality. I would want for judging such melons a scale of points, something like this : 

 Points when perfect— shape, nearest the nutmeg form, live ; size, to be nearestfive inches, 

 in the shortest diameter, five ; weight the greatest with the same diameter of flesh, thickest 

 and firmest, five ; quality, most buttery and aromatic, five ; general appearance (most 

 closely netted, upon a golden ground wlien fully ripe)^five ; total '2"). The prize would go 

 to the one scoring the greatest number of points ; 25 being perfect in everything. In size, 

 when going over six inches or under three inches in diameter, I would score zero. The best 

 strains of netted (iem canteloupe come nearest to filling the above score of any varieties 

 tried liere, in Grayson County, Texas ; hence I consider it the best, and it has certainly 

 proved to be more profitable than any other for market. Musk-melons are here regarded 

 as a difi'erent class of melon from the canteloupe, as much so as are pumpkins and squashes 

 separated." 



In speaking of judging potatoes, the same writer says : 



" In judging between competing potatoes of the same variety, I would prefer to work 

 upon a scale of points, as in all other such matters, so that I could always give a reason 

 for my decision. A good scale for the potato would be: Points— Size, for perfection, five, 

 regularity and uniformity, for perfection, five ; freedom from fungus and insect blemishes, 

 five ; freedom from hollow-core, five ; perfection of condition from digging, handling, etc., 

 five ; total 2.5. Thus perfect kinds would score 25 points. T 



HANDLING THE GRAPE CROP. 



As the grape become affected with rot it will be found a most prudent 

 measure to pick them off and burn them. This should greatly diminish the 

 stock of disease spores for another season. Every rotten berry left on the 

 ground to increase spores increases the liability to a greater amount of disease 

 next year, just as permitting a weed to go to seed makes more to contend with 

 the following season. 



Grapes should not be picked until the dew has thoroughly dried, leaving 

 them with the bloom that is so attractive to the eye ; they should be 

 allowed to shrink in the picking boxes for several hours and then carefully 

 packed for .shipment. Particular attention should be given to the sorting and 

 putting-up of the fruit. Remove carefully all green and imperfect berries from 

 the clusters, and preserve the bloom as much as possible. The best bunches 

 should be selected, and small, bare clusters or single berries should not be ])ut 

 in ; some other use may be found for these. For choice grapes, it will pay to 

 line the sides of the package, having a partial cover of pretty fringed paper to 

 turn over the face of the fruit. Packages containing five pounds, or neat 

 baskets of ten pounds, will l)u found best for markrting fine grapes. — Orcluxrd 

 and (lardin. 



