STOKES SEEDS 



MUSKMELON ( 



CUCUMIS] 

 MELO ) 



Origin — A native of Southern Asia, cultivated from a very remote period of antiquity, perhaps having come from the 

 oblohg fruit of the Persian melon, the date of its first culture being unknown. It is considered to be as old as any of the 

 alimentary vegetables. That the Egyptians knew and grew melons seems to be well established by certain well-known 

 verses in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Numbers of the Bible. The Romans and Greeks were familiar with it in its 

 cultured form, as it appears to have been brought from Persia at least before the first century. Pliny speaks of it at length, 

 describing the difSculties of obtaining melons for the Emperor Tiberius all months of the year. There are many and 

 various classes of melons, one of the oldest and best being the canlalouppi, which, according to M. Jacquin, derives its 

 name from Cantaloupe, a scat belonging to the Pope near Rome, where this sort, brought from Armenia by the missionaries, 

 was first cultivated. De Serries and Gerard describe melons in their resix^tive countries in the sixteenth and seventeenth 

 centuries. Although perhaps grown at their Ijest in Egypt and in Ihc warm sunshine of the Orient, they are now known 

 the world over. 



No. 43— THE BENDER 



Days to maturity, 80-95. We have come to look on The Bender Melon as one of 

 the most valuable on the list. Our stock has proven an unusually fine one, and, 

 although some customers have apparently not learned the knack of growing a good 

 Bender, many others are making huge profits from it. Because of its size (it will run 

 from 8 to 10 inches in diameter and weigh from 8 to 14 pounds) it takes unusually 

 heavy fertilization. 



We would di fine The B( ndi t a'^ a distinctly mdividual Melon in contrast to the basket type. Bender 

 is a lii^lily llason d. rouriii Mi I.mi willi ili c p orange flesh, and of a delicious, melting texture when fully 

 n|H II IS usu.illv sl.iidd unci. 1 i;lass. in pots or in bands, and transplanted. In the latitude of Phila- 

 d. Iphi.i. s.<-<l planted aixjiil M.iy L'.'ith will mature Melons about August 20th. 



A liival customer of ours, Mr. Herman Ude of Suffield, Conn., has had unusual success with our 

 Hrtiil. i' now lor the last Ihrtx years. Mr. Ude markets them for from $1.00 to $1.50 per Melon by 

 Ihi l:uck-load. This figure can Ix- verified. These retail at about 28 cents per pound. As usual, 

 our M i d has been grown privately for us in Colorado and has been inspected by an officer of our firm 

 this ^Kis^ season. Our slock is very highly recommended. Price, delivered: pkt., lOc; oz.. 25c; 

 V4 lb.. 85c; Vi lb., $1.60; lb., $3.00; 5 lbs., @. $2.85 per lb.; 10 lbs., @ $2.75 per lb.; 50 lbs., @ 

 $2.50 per lb. 



Some Bender Melons weigh as much as M pounds 



No. 44— Abbott's Peerless Pearl 



Days to maturity, 80-95. This Melon has found an unusual reception among 

 all growers because of its very decided resistance to disease and to downy mildew — 

 it being much more resistant than Hale's Best and other j^ood types. It has 

 already made many friends in New Jersey and on the Del-Mar-Va F'eninsula. 



Abbott's Peerless Pearl, grown for us by the originator of the variety, has a 

 tough, pearl-gray rind, completely covered with a heavy white netting. The 

 heaviness of this netting is one of the outstanding features of the variety. The 

 fliesh is a deep pink with a small pea-green streak ne.xt to the rind. It has a very 

 small seed cavity which is filled with paper-white seed. The seed is distinctly 

 smaller than that of most Cantaloupes. There are at least 40% more seed per 

 poiind than any variety we know of. The flesh is firm, and the flavor is most 

 delicious. The shipping qualities of the Melon are unsurpassed, and the selling 

 qualities equally good. Cirowers are warned, however, that the seed of this 

 variety is more delicate than others, and must be handled with greater care. 

 Price, delivered: pkt., 10c; oz., 25c; Vi lb., 85c; Va 'b-, $1.60; lb., $3.00; 

 5 lbs., $2.85 per lb.; 10 lbs., $2.75 per lb.; 50 lbs., (a $2.50 per lb. 



Abbott's Peerless Pearl is very highly disease resistant 



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