MAEKETING AXD DISTEIBUTIOIS" OF WESTEEX MUSKMELONS. 3 



not form an appreciable part of the totaV.-,' The enthe acreage is pro- 

 duced under irrigation and, in general, the growmg is handled suc- 

 cessfully according to the most approved methods. The acreages of 

 the individual growers vary from 10 or 15 acres to 100 or more, and 

 some firms grow several hmidred acres. The expansion of markets, 

 however, has not kept pace with the expansion of acreage. 



marketing arrangements. 



Contracts Between Growers and Distributors. 



The most striking feature of the marketing arrangements in the 

 Imperial Valley is the contract in vogue between the growers and 

 certain individuals, firms, or corporations, acting as shippers or dis- 

 tributors, who contract to handle and sell muskmelons for the growers 

 at a stipulated commission of 1 5 per cent. 



Tlie shippers or distributors generally consign the melons to their 

 main ofiices or to their connections in the eastern markets. They 

 guarantee to make certain advances of money to the growers, which 

 consist, first, of an advance at the time the contract is signed, gen- 

 erally $10 per acre, and of further per-acre advances during the 

 growing season at the discretion of the distributor and according to 

 the needs of the grower. When active shipping commences, the 

 distributor further makes a per-crate advance at the beginning of 

 each week covering all crates shipped by the grower during the pre- 

 vious week. In 1915 this per-crate advance varied from 57 to 77 

 cents per "standard," ''jumbo," or "pony" crate. ^ The distributor 

 deducts from this per-crate advance a certain amount to cover the 

 cost of crate material, which is furnished by him, and a varying 

 amount to repay the per-acre loans made earlier m the year. A 

 general season's average net return, equal to the amount advanced 

 per crate, is usually guaranteed by the distributor. 



During the season of 1915 there were 14 firms shipping muskmelons 

 from the Imperial Valley who controlled acreages by contract as 

 described, and several other large shipper who grew their own melons. 

 Copies of contracts were secured from 11 of those who advanced 

 money on crops. All of these advanced $10 per acre as an initial 

 loan, and most of them made additional per-acre loans of $5 or more. 

 The per-crate advances of the 11 averaged 66 cents on the standard, 

 pony, and jumbo crates, and 22.4 cents on "flats." 



REA.SON8 FOR CONTRACT SYSTEM. 



At first glance, a contract system binding the grower to soU through 

 a certain distributor at 15 per cent commission may seem uiid(«ira])le; 

 but it is based on the grower's inability to finance the raising of his 

 crops. The muskmelon industry is a highly specialized and risky 



' For definitions of crato seo Farmers' liul. 707, 



