MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION OF WESTERN MUSKMELONS. 15 
as close picking as possible, so that many melons are picked before 
being sufficiently mature. Likewise, there is an inclination to pack 
melons of doubtful quality in order to produce a large number of 
crates. 
Quality of Wrapped and Unwrapped Muskmelons. 
The question of the desirability of wrapped in contrast to un- 
wrapped muskmelons is one which has been long discussed. In the 
season of 1915 many distributors in the Imperial Valley experi- 
mented with unwrapped melons, with generally unsatisfactory re- 
sults. The unwrapped muskmelons in the majority of instances 
arrived on the market in an overripe condition. Reasons for this 
have not been established, the most plausible theory being that be- 
cause of the very high temperature and warm winds the moisture in 
the melons evaporates very quickly after they are picked. Further, 
they change in temperature and ripen rapidly when deprived of the 
shade of the vines. It is believed that the paper wrap protects the 
melons not only from the hot winds but also somewhat from a rapid 
change in temperature between the time when they are packed and 
when placed in the car. 
Whatever may be the reasons, it is certain that the distributors 
who wrapped their melons had fewer complaints of overripe stock 
than those who did not. One shipper decided not to wrap at the 
beginning of the season, but received so many complaints that in the 
middle of the season he decided to wrap all melons thereafter, and 
his complaints practically ceased. Market quotations everywhere 
indicated a preference for wrapped stock over the ordinary un- 
wrapped. A few market quotations received are given below: 
June 21, New York: Receipts, 23 cars. Stock mostly good condition, wrapped 
stock being given preference by the trade at higher prices than unwrapped. 
June 24, St. Louis: Three cars arrived. Standards, unwrapped, $2: wrapped, $2.25. 
June 29, Kansas City: Unwrapped standards, $1.50 to $1.75, mostly $1.50; wrapped, 
$1.75 to $2, mostly $1.75. 
However, the question of wrapped or unwrapped muskmelons can 
not be dismissed without reference to one certain brand which was 
packed unwrapped the entire season with great success, usually 
topping the markets at prices well in advance of all others. This 
brand, however, was picked and packed with special care, and the 
melons were placed under ice promptly without the usual delays. 
This proves that under favorable conditions and with proper care 
muskmelons may be packed unwrapped and shipped to any market 
successfully. 
The fact remains that under the average conditions in the Im- 
perial Valley unwrapped melons did not prove a success in 1915, 
and probably will not until picking and packing methods have been 
more nearly perfected, and until the unnecessary delays between the 
field and iced car have been eliminated. 
