366 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



The Indiana Experiment Station suggests the follow- 

 ing as the ideal type of the Netted Gem, based partly 

 upon the experience of Colorado growers in selecting 

 Rocky Ford Gems: 



Sbc, slightly less than 5 inches in length and slightly 

 over 4 inches in diameter. This size packs to the best 

 advantage in the standard Rocky Ford crate or "forty- 

 fives." Seed Cavity small and well filled with seed. Flesk 

 thick, light green in color, shading uniformly to a deeper 

 green from the small seed cavity to the thin rind. Netting 

 heavy, well defined and uniform over the whole surface 

 of the melon. A gem of this type will keep longer and 

 ship better than more prominently ribbed types. (See 

 Figure 87.) Flavor, rich, smooth and melting. This 

 flavor is usually found in a melon which meets the other 

 requirements mentioned. Vines should be strong and 

 prolific and should produce as early ripening a product 

 as possible. 



512. Starting early plants. — The general custom is to 

 plant the seed in the field, but as this cannot be done 

 until the ground is thoroughly warm and there is no 

 further danger of frost, many growers have found it 

 profitable to start the plants in hotbeds or greenhouses. 

 There are three distinct advantages in following this 

 method: (i) The melons ripen from a week to 10 days 

 earlier than in open air planting; (2) it makes possible 

 the growing of muskmelons where the summers are 

 short and cool; and (3) it may be the means of avoiding 

 serious trouble from the attacks of insects, particularly 

 those of the striped cucumber beetle. 



On the eastern shore of Maryland and in some other 

 southern sections, part of the crop is started under 

 glass. The Canadian crop of the Montreal Market is 

 always started under glass and protected by sash as long 

 as may be necessary. At Decker, Indiana, all of the 

 plants for hundreds of acres are grown in hotbeds until 



