CANTALOUPE MARKETING IN THE LARGER CITIES. 9 



are warned against their use should realize that the objections to 

 such packages are well founded. 



Table 3 illustrates the need for standardization of packages used 

 in marketing cantaloupes. It shows the different types and sizes of 

 containers which were being quoted on the Milwaukee market from 

 three States on one day during the 1914 season: 



Table 3. — Cantaloupe -packages in use in Milwaukee on the same day. 



From Arizona: 



Standard crates 45 melons. 



Jumbo crates 36 or 45 jumbo melons. 



Two-thirds crates 30 melons. 



Pony crates 54 melons. 



Standard flat crates 12 or 15 melons. 



Pony flat crates 15 melons. 



Jumbo flat crates 9 or 12 melons. 



From Illinois: 



Climax baskets 14 to 20 melons. 



Flat cases 10 to 18 melons. 



Pony cases 16 melons. 



Crates 1 bushel. 



From Indiana: 



Standard crates 36 or 45 melons. 



Flat — 24 inches long 15 to 18 melons. 



Flat — 20 inches long 12 to 15 melons. 



Basket crates about J bushel. 



Climax baskets 14 to 20 melons. 



EFFECT OF WEATHER ON DEMAND AND PRICE. 



The demand for few fruits fluctuates more quickly in response to 

 changes in weather conditions than does that for cantaloupes. Clear, 

 hot days stimulate consumption to its maximum while a cold, rainy 

 period acts as a decided check, often reducing demand to the point of 

 demoralizing prices. To local growers such an occurrence is not so 

 del omental as it is to those far from market who may have hundreds 

 of cats rolling, so allotted as to give each eastern city a supply which 

 should be its maximum under best selling conditions. In such cases 

 a few cold, rainy days in the East may so stagnate the markets that 

 very heavy losses result. 



Such conditions occurred during September, 1914, while the ship- 

 ments of Colorado 'pink meats" were moving heavily. From about 

 the loth to the L6thof the month most of the States in the North and 

 Easl experienced unusually cold weather, accompanied by rain in 

 -'Hue sections. Light frosts were reported from several points. The 

 • •fleet of t his was to decrea 8e to iL marked extent (he demand for Colo- 

 rado cantaloupes and reduce to a still lower level prices which were: 

 already ruinous to I he shippers. 

 7710° !•', Bull. 315 2 



