CANTALOUPE BREEDING 
PHILO K. BLINN 
The cantaloupe industry has made its principal development 
since the introduction of the Netted Gem variety; for due to its 
small uniform size and good carrying quality the growth of tlie 
industry has been possible. 
It was not until the excellent quality of the cantaloupes pro¬ 
duced on irrigated land under dry climatic conditions was realized, 
that the industry became prominent. 
The first cantaloupes on the eastern markets from the arid 
region were shipped from Rocky Ford, Colorado, in 1896. Their 
superior flavor was an innovation to the eastern melon trade.; the 
contrast in quality was so striking as compared to the eastern and 
southern products that the Rocky Fords at once became regarded 
as a new variety, and under that popular symbol have won a na¬ 
tional reputation. Each year thousands of cars of cantaloupes are 
marketed as genuine Rocky Fords, but from widely distant fields; 
those from the southern states appearing on the markets early in 
May, and continuing the supply from various states until late in 
October. 
The phenomenal growth of the industry and the great demand, 
has established the cantaloupe as one of the favorite fruits of the 
American table; if the quality could always be assured there is 
hardly a fruit that could rival it in popularity or price. 
Some of the causes that lead to poor quality are: Unfavorable 
climatic conditions, plant diseases, insect injuries, glutted markets 
and the unavoidable delays in transportation; many of which are 
beyond any apparent means of control. Yet when we consider 
what has been accomplished by plant breeding in other lines, it does 
not seem impossible that there could be developed a disease-resistant 
cantaloupe that would possess such superior qualities as to enable 
it to endure adverse conditions and still reach the markets in better 
state and with higher flavor than any we now possess. To this end 
cantaloupe breeding becomes an important feature of the industry, 
for at best the crop is a hazardous one, due to the above named 
influences and until recently careful seed selection has been gener¬ 
ally neglected. 
A GOOD DEMAND EOR GOOD SEED. 
The general growth of the industry has created a large de¬ 
mand for cantaloupe seed, and naturally Rocky Ford has been an 
important source of supply. It seems that it is more than the noto¬ 
riety of the name that gives an intrinsic value to the seed produced 
