MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION OF WESTERN MUSKMELONS. 33 
crate, 25 cents per flat crate, and in some cases 25 cents per pony 
crate, though the larger number of the distributors refused to make 
any advance whatever on pony melons. Under such contracts the 
crate material usually is furnished to the grower by the distributor 
at cost or at a price allowing the distributor a small margin of profit. 
Pools are made biseasonally — one for the shipments made in August 
and the second for all shipments from September 1 to the end of the 
season. The distributor reserves the privilege of discontinuing all 
advances upon 24 hours' written notice. The commission on the 
advance, as well as the no-advance types of contracts, is 15 per cent. 
During the past year most of the owner growers adopted a contract 
which contemplated no advance payment per crate by the distributor. 
These owner growers generally do not need financial assistance in 
producing their crops. Under this contract as written the distributor 
performs no service but loading the cars and marketing them. These 
growers purchase their own material either individually or through 
their association. A feature of one such contract was that returns 
were made to the association without delay by the local agent of the 
distributing company on the same day that the car was sold in the 
eastern market, the result being telegraphed by his eastern connec- 
tion. Further, copies of all account sales were mailed directly to the 
growers' association by the eastern agent of the distributor, these 
acting as a check on the wired amount. 
It should not be inferred that no owner growers have contracts 
including advances or that all tenant growers have contracts with 
advances. No hard-and-fast rule can be set regarding contracts of 
the Eocky Ford district, but in a general way the various classes of 
growers in 1915 made contracts as indicated. A copy of a " no- 
advance" type of contract is given below: 
Agreement and Contract. 
This agreement made and entered into this 15th day of March, 1915, by and between 
, party of the first part, and , party of the second part. 
Witnesseth: That, 
Whereas party of the first part is at all times engaged in shipping, marketing, and 
distributing cantaloupes on commission; and 
Whereas party of the second part is engaged in the growing of cantaloupes; 
This agreement is such that the party of the second part agrees to plant 140 acres of 
cantaloupes, eighty (80) per cent Eden Gem variety and twenty (20) per cent Osage 
Gem variety, and properly prepare the ground, plant, cultivate, grade, and pack can- 
taloupes, making every effort to secure best quality of product, and deliver same to 
the said party of the first part in good merchantable condition, at the platforms: 
for inspection, the inspectors to be furnished by the said party of the first part. 
It is further agreed that for and in consideration of the party of the second part 
growing and delivering said cantaloupes, as aforesaid, the party of the first part shall 
