30 



BULLETIN" 401, TJ. S. DEPAETMEXT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



are very largely the green-meated, especially various strains of the 

 Eden Gem and Pollock. Only a small acreage of BmTell Gems is 

 grown. The district is notable in that it is the only western musk- 

 melon section not depending upon surface irrigation. Although the 

 San Joaquin Valley is supplied with water for irrigaiton, and alfalfa 

 and grain fields are irrigated freely, the growers depend entirely upon 

 subirrigation or seepage to supply the necessary moisture. 



The muskmelon crop was not generally very profitable prior to 

 1915. Shipments were limited by unsatisfactory market conditions 

 in previous years, and only a portion of the crop was moved. In 1915 

 the markets were good, and shipments continued for a long season, 

 car lots going out from July 20 until October 4. The following figures 

 show the difference between shipments in 1914 and 1915: 



To- 



19 U 



1915 



East 



Cars. 

 539 

 120 



Cars. 



1,350 



204 



West. - . 



Total 



659 



1,554 



So far as could be learned, the acreage was substantially the same 

 in both years, and the production about the same. Had the market 

 been as satisfactory in 1914 as in 1915, it is not improbable that the 

 same nmnber of cars could have been moved. In other words, it 

 seems probable that half of the crop of 191,4 was lost for lack of 

 markets. 



MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS. 



Muskmelons probably have been marketed in a greater variety of 

 ways at Turlock than in any other western sections. In previous 

 years large numbers were purchased from the farmers' wagons by 

 buyers stationed in the railroad yards, but this was not so much the 

 case in 1915. Fairly large acreages were contracted to distributors 

 to be marketed at a charge of 15 cents per crate. So far as is known, 

 there were no advances made in any of these contracts. A coopera- 

 tive organization was formed, which handled a considerable tonnage 

 for 15 cents per crate. After a 5 per cent dividend was paid on the 

 stock, any surplus was to be returned to the growers at the end of the 

 season, being prorated on the basis of the volume of shipments offered 

 by each grower. 



QUALITY. 



The quahty of Turlock muskmelons during the 1915 season was 

 generally satisfactory, although not uniform. The prices at which 

 different brands sold on the market varied considerably. Certain 

 brands also were very uneven, some very good packs and some very 

 poor being observed in the same cars. No wraps were used on any 

 of the Turlock melons. 



