MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION OF WESTERN MUSKMELONS. 9 
The necessity for good quality Las been so widely recognized that 
in 1915 the State of California passed an act establishing a standard 
grade for muskmelons which must be adhered to in the future. 
Comparisons of Returns on Muskmelons of Good and Poor Quality. 
The 1915 season demonstrated beyond question the fact that 
only high-quality melons give profitable returns. The differences 
in the selling prices of various brands were very marked and consistent 
throughout the season, those of good market quality bringing uni- 
formly good prices and those of poor quality the reverse. The 
average prices received from the sale of cars of four typical brands in 
four markets on three different days are compared below (Table 2). 
A and B contained brands of consistently good quality and sold for 
higher prices than C and D, which contained two poorer brands. The 
cars were sold side by side on the various markets, and no effort was 
made to select cars showing particularly good or bad sales, the indi- 
vidual cars having been picked at random. 
Table 2. — Average prices received per crate for muskmelons from the Imperial Valley in 
four markets on certain days. 
New York. 
Chicago. 
Pittsburgh. 
St. Louis. 
June 19. 
Good quality: 
A 
$2. 40 
$2. 75 
$2.50 
$2. 1® 
B 
2. 25 to 2. 50 
2. 25 to 2. 75 
2. 25 to 2. 65 
2.25 
Poor quality: 
C 
1.75 
1.25 
1.50 
None sold. 
D 
None sold. 
None sold. 
1. 70 
None sold. 
June 30. 
Good quality: 
2.50 
2. 75 
2.50 
2.25 
B 
2. 50 to 2. 75 
2. 00 to 2.30 
2. 15 
2.00 
Poor quality: 
C 
None sold. 
None sold. 
None sold. 
None sold. 
D 
1.90 
1.65 to 1.75 
1.75 
1. 75 to 2. 00 
July 10. 
Good quality: 
A 
2. 00 
2.25 
2. 50 
None sold. 
B 
2. 25 to 2. 50 
2. 00 to 2.25 
None sold. 
None sold. 
Poor quality: 
1.25 
1.50 
None sold. 
None sold. 
D 
2.05 
None sold. 
1.78 
None sold. 
The Ideal Market Melon of the Gem Type. 
As a market term, the word "quality" has a broad meaning. A 
melon of good quality for market purposes must be not only of good 
flavor and texture, but also of the size and shape desired by the 
market, of good appearance, possess good carrying qualities, and be 
properly picked, packed, and handled. A comparison of the quality 
of any two brands is merely a comparison of the nearness to which - 
they approach perfection. 
Size. — The market desires a uniform melon, both as to size and 
shape. The 45-size standard cantaloupe is the most popular and 
52335°— Bull. 401-16 2 
