8 
BuIvLETIN 121. 
The past season proved very favorable for the development of 
the rust trouble, and the melon fields went down nearly three weeks 
earlier than usual; our rust-resistant selection remained green until 
the majority of the fields were dead, and some of the most markedly 
resistant plants in the plat remained green until frost, this in spite of 
the fact that the seed was grown on soil that for four consecutive 
years had been badly infested wdth rust, the idea being to develop 
the quality under as adverse conditions as possible, consequently, 
irrigation was applied in excess to favor the development of the 
rust. The plat was planted with the seed of nine individual melons, 
wdiich had passed the rigid test of selection on the same plat the 
previous season; one row was planted as a “check” row; seed from 
a very perfect melon, but from a field that had not been selected 
for rust resistance. The plat developed nicely until about August 
15. The season was characterized by frequent showers and heavy 
dews, and in July the rust spots appeared on all the early melon 
fields, and when the first picking began, about August loth, the 
fields were getting browm wdth rust, as was also the check row in 
our plat, while the other rows were comparatively free from 
rust. The following photographic record represents the relative 
condition of the vines on the check row and adjacent rust-resisting 
row on August 20th; the whole plat having received the same 
treatment in every respect. 
When the rust had developed to some extent on the plat (which 
began at least ten days later than any other plat under equal condi¬ 
tions), the plat was carefully studied, and over one hundred resistant 
plants were staked and numbered, and each day as the ripe melons 
were gathered, these were marked with the number of the hill and the 
seed saved separately and the description made of the qualities of 
each. At the close of the season, the plat was gone over and notes 
taken of the rusted condition of the various plants; this revealed 
the fact that a few of the whole number, had remained resistant 
later than others. With the system of numbering used, this seed 
can be identified and used in further developing this important 
quality. 
Careful consideration and a great deal of time has been de¬ 
voted to selecting melons with a view to improving their keeping 
qualities, as well as flavor and other qualities desired in a perfect 
melon. The following photograph reveals some desirable internal 
and external qualities showm in some of the melons of our selection. 
In order to develop early maturity in our rust-resistant strain, 
we have made arrangements for a co-operative test, by having some 
of this seed grown in Canada, the product of which will be tested 
this coming year at Rocky Ford, to indicate the influence of lati¬ 
tude on early maturity. 
Some investigational work in regard to the life history of the 
melon louse, and the means of combatting it was taken up in co¬ 
operation with and under the direction of Prof. C. P. Gillette. 
