
Wy 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 


July 10, 1924 

Washington, D. C. v 
RELATION BETWEEN THE COMPOSITION OF CALIFORNIA CANTA- 
LOUPES AND THEIR COMMERCIAL MATURITY. 
By E. M. Cuace, Chemist in Charge, C. G. Cuurcu, Assistant Chemist, and 
F. E. Denny, Associate Chemist, Laboratory of Fruit and Vegetable Chemistry. 

CONTENTS. 
Page. Page 
California cantaloupe industry__-_----------- 1} DISCUSSIOMVORTESULGS es esd ee 4 
Purpose of investigation. .__.._..-.---------- 2 | Practical application of results______________- 25 
Investipational work o sesh so Se 29] SUNN aT Vee Ses 2s ae a ee ee 26 
CALIFORNIA CANTALOUPE INDUSTRY. 
The cantaloupe industry of California has been created within the 
past 10 years, during which period the yearly shipments have in- 
creased from a few hundred to 15,000 cars. The growth of the indus- 
try is shown in Table 1, which gives car-lot shipments from the large 
melon-growing counties of the State from 1916 to 1923. The mis- 
cellaneous sections include San Joaquin, Tulare, and Kern counties. 
TABLE 1.—Car-lot shipmenis of cantaloupes from California. 



District. 1916 1917 | 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 
Fmiperiak Valley. 2202s 4,622] 5,744] 4,405] 7,799 | 9,015 | 10,682 | 12,236] 12,992 
SiAMISISS COUN tye ee ee Se 3,467 | 2,514) 2,443] 3,897] 3,849] 2,089] 2,306 1, 836 
Miscellaneous sections_______________ | 2 ahs ep A a Ae ee A re eA Enaee 436 930 621 
Placing California melons in eastern markets in a satisfactory 
condition presents many difficulties, not the least of which is the 
determination of the proper stage of maturity for picking. California 
is from 1,800 to 3,000 miles from eastern distributing poimts and the 
time of transit between the two points has varied from 10 to 20 days. 
With the usual methods of handling, if melons have been allowed to 
develop too far before being picked, they can be shipped only short 
distances. Such melons, known to the trade as choice, are sold in 
California cities. For eastern shipment, it is customary to pick the 
1N. C. Smith and J. B. McNair collaborated in the analytical work, and E, L, Markell, G. L. Fischer, 
and A. E. Nelson in the field work. 
85499°—24¢——1 
