IfAilKETIXG AXD DISTRIBUTION OP WESTERN iNIUSKMELONS. 9 



The necessity for good quality has ])eeii so widely recognized that 

 in 1915 the State' of CaMfomia passed an act estabHshing a standard 

 grade for niuskmelons which must be adhered to in the future. 



Comparisons of Returns on Muskmelons or Good and Poor Quality. 



The 1915 season demonstrated be3^ond question the fact that 

 only high-quality melons give profitable returns. The differences 

 in the seUing prices of various brands were very marked and consistent 

 throughout the season, those of good market quality bringing uni- 

 formly good prices and those of poor quality the reverse. The 

 average prices received from the sale of cars of four typical brands ia 

 four markets on three different days are compared below (Table 2). 

 A and B contained brands of consistently good quality and sold for 

 higher prices than C and D, which contained two poorer brands. The 

 cars were sold side by side on the various markets, and no effort was 

 made to select cars showing particularly good or bad sales, the indi- 

 vidual cars having been picked at random. 



Table 2. — Average prices received per crate for mushnelotis frora the Imperial Valley in 

 four markets on certain days. 



June 19. 

 Good quality: 



A 



B 



Poor quality: 



C 



D 



June 30. 

 Good quality: 



A 



B 



Poor quality: 



c ; 



D 



Jiihj 10. 

 Good quality: 



A 



B 



Poor quality: 



C 



D 



New York. 



$2.40 

 2. 25 to 2. 50 



1.75 

 None sold. 



2.50 

 2. 50 to 2. 75 



None sold. 

 1.90 



2.00 

 2. 25 to 2. 50 



1.2,5 

 2.05 



Chicago. 



$2.: 



2. 25 to 2. 1 



1.25 

 None sold. 



2.75 

 2. 00 to 2. 30 



None sold. 

 1.65 to 1.75 



2.25 

 2. 00 to 2.25 



1..50 

 None sold. 



Pittsburgh. 



$2.50 

 2. 25 to 2. 65 



L50 

 1.70 



2.50 

 2.15 



None sold. 

 1.75 



2.50 

 None sold. 



None sold. 



1.7S 



St. Louis. 



$2.16 

 2.25 



None sold. 

 None sold. 



2.25 

 2.00 



None sold. 

 1. 75 to 2. 00 



None sold. 

 None sold. 



None sold. 

 None sold. 



The Ideal Market Melon of the Gem Type. 



As a market term, the word "quality" has a broad meaning. A 

 melon of good quality for market purposes must bo not only of good 

 flavor and texture, but also of the size and shape desired by the 

 market, of good appearance, possess good carrying qualities, and be 

 properly picked, packed, and handled. A compariscm of the quality 

 of any two brands is merely a comparison of the nearness to which 

 they approach perfection. 



Size. — The mark(;t desires a unifoi'm melon, both as to size and 

 shape. Tlie 45-size standard cantaloupe is the most popular and 

 52335°— Bull. 401- 16—2 



