366 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
The Indiana Experiment Station suggests the follow- 
ing as the ideal type of the Netted Gem, based partly 
upon the experience of Colorado growers in selecting 
Rocky Ford Gems: 
Size, slightly less than 5 inches in length and slightly 
over 4 inches in diameter. This size packs to the best 
advantage in the standard Rocky Ford crate or “forty' 
fives.” Seed Cavity small and well filled with seed. Flesh 
thick, light green in color, shading uniformly to a deeper 
green from the small seed cavity to the thin rind. Netting 
heavy, well defined and uniform over the whole surface 
of the melon. A gem of this type will keep longer and 
ship better than more prominently ribbed types. (See 
Figure 87.) Flavor, rich, smooth and melting. This 
flavor is usually found in a melon which meets the other 
requirements mentioned. Vines should be strong and 
prolific and should produce as early ripening a product 
as possible. 
512. Starting early plants. — The general custom is to 
plant the seed in the field, but as this cannot be done 
until the ground is thoroughly warm and there is no 
further danger of frost, many growers have found it 
profitable to start the plants in hotbeds or greenhouses. 
There are three distinct advantages in following this 
method: (1) The melons ripen from a week to 10 days 
earlier than in open air planting; (2) it makes possible 
the growing of muskmelons where the summers are 
short and cool; and (3) it may be the means of avoiding 
serious trouble from the attacks of insects, particularly 
those of the striped cucumber beetle. 
On the eastern shore of Maryland and in some other 
southern sections, part of the crop is started under 
glass. The Canadian crop of the Montreal Market is 
always started under glass and protected by sash as long 
as may be necessary. At Decker, Indiana, all of the 
plants for hundreds of acres are grown in hotbeds until 
