Page S4 



BEITER FRUIT 



March 



Pliotograf'h by C. S. Reeves 



BOX OF FOUR-TIER CLARK SEEDLING 

 STRAWBERRIES 

 Grown by T. J. League, White Salmon, Washington 



According to Mendel's law of constant 

 proportions resulting from such hybrids 

 we may confidently expect the desired 

 combination if qualities are compatible. 



It was found by observations that the 

 flower of the Rocky Ford cantaloupe is 

 quite the exception to most of the cucur- 

 bitaceous plants like the cucumber and 

 many other varieties of melons, which 

 have their stamens and pistils borne in 

 separate flowers, while the Rocky Ford 

 variety is hermaphroditic — that is, the 

 stamens and pistils are produced in one 

 flower. It also has purely staminate 

 flowers, produced in great profusion at 

 the intersection of nearly every branch. 



(Guarantee Certificate 



ROCKY MOUNTAIN CANTALOUPE 

 BREEDING ASSOCIATION 



ROCKY FORD. COLO. 



Cantaloupe seed accompanied by this certi- 

 ficate, with tlie sea! and package unbroken, is 

 guaranteed to have been produced by this 

 association in accordance with the by-laws, 

 and tlie most approved methods of cantaloupe 

 breeding. The purchaser is hereby assured 

 of first grade selection, of a pure strain of 

 genuine Rocky Ford variety known as; 



- Pedigree No. 



This strain of seed has had years 



of individual test plat breeding. It was 

 grown from registered stock seed, and was 

 selected from a field grown exclusively for 

 seed, where no melons were marketed. The 

 requirements for this grade of seed were 

 fine netting, standard size, good internal 

 qualities, and with no defects that would 

 injure the seed or the crop to be grown from 

 them. The germinating vitality of this seed 

 is perfect as experience and good equipment 

 can produce. 



In Testimony Whereof, The seal of the 

 Association and the signatures of its officers 



are affixed 19- 



.President 



-Secretary 



It is evident that cross-fertilization is 

 readily possible, yet the arrangement of 

 the flower and the results of observation 

 would indicate that self-pollenization is 

 quite as common, or more so. 



The numerical arrangement of the 

 flower was found to vary, the three-lobed 

 pistil, with three stamens, was the com- 

 mon form, but four, and even five, were 

 encountered. The result of a three-lobed 

 pistil is shown in No. 1 in Plate IV. 



The pollen of the cantaloupe flower 

 has been found to ripen about the time 

 the flower is opened, and the pollen is 

 usually shed at this time, which is usu- 

 ally early in the morning. To fertilize 

 the flower and have the results of known 

 origin it is necessary to find the bud 

 about twenty-four hours before it open? 

 (Plate II, No. 1), which can easily be 

 told by observation. In this stage it 

 should be amasculated before the pollen 

 lobes are ripe. By cutting around the 

 base of the corolla and caylx the two 

 may be removed with the stamens 

 attached, leaving the pistil free and 

 exposed. (Plate II, Nos. 2 and 4.) A 

 small paper sack is then tied over the 

 stem to protect the pistil from foreign 

 pollen until the following morning, when 

 the stigma will be at about the same 

 stage as if the flower had not been dis- 

 turbed, and ready to receive the pollen. 



The desired pollen is introduced from a 

 freshly opened flower. By pulling off the 

 corolla the stamens are exposed, showing 

 ripe pollen grains, which are transferred 

 by touching the ripe pollen lobes to the 

 pistil or stigma until it is well covered 

 with the yellow pollen grains. The paper 

 sack is then replaced for several days 

 until development begins. 



The general conclusion of the investi- 

 gation is that systematic seed breeding 

 will intensify any desired qualities found 

 in cantaloupes, as well as in corn and 

 other crops. 



The essential points for breeding can- 

 taloupes are: ■ 



RESULTS OF BLISTER MITE 



1, Keeping records that will establish the history 

 of a plant at any time; 2, Close observation to 

 detect desirable variations; 3, Individual selections; 



4, Comparative testing to determine relative merits; 



5, Judging the average results of a selection rather 

 than the behavior of an individual in it; 6, An 

 understanding of physiological botany, in order to 

 perform necessary cross-pollenization successfully. 



The principal points, or unit charac- 

 ters, to consider might be enumerated 

 as follows: 



1, Germinating vitality; 2, Vigor of growth; 3, 

 Early setting; 4, Quick maturity; 5, Prolific yields; 



6, Uniformity of the desired quality in the product. 



The Standard for the Rocky Ford 

 cantaloupe of today might be given to 

 include the following qualities: 



1, Proper size to pack in the standard crate; 

 2, Fine, heavy, light gray netting, covering the 

 entire melon (Plate 3) ; 3, Color character of the 

 background or interstices between the netting, such 

 as will indicate to the eye, by a slight change of 

 tint, when the cantaloupe is ready to pick, which is 

 rather an olive green, and one that does not turn 

 yellow fast; 4, A thick flesh and solid filled seed 

 cavity (Plate 4, No. 2); o, A firm, smooth texture, 

 fine grained and free from any fiber or water core: 

 6, A green colored flesh is usually preferred, though 

 commonly it is combined with orange or salmon 

 tint; 7, The flavor is the ultimate test; it should be 

 rich, sweet and spicy, free from any disagreeable 

 consistency or aftertaste. 



If the same care and attention were 

 paid to the breeding and growing of 

 improved cantaloupes and other crops 

 there would be a great demand for pedi- 

 greed seed, as well as the call for regis- 

 tered horses, sheep or cattle. 







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PLATE I— (1) VINE RUSTED ON CHECK ROW. (2) ADJACENT VINE SHOWING 

 RESISTANCE TO RUST 



