IO 
bulletin 104 . 
an important feature in seed selection and lead them to furnish in¬ 
formation that will assist in securing that end. 
As a matter of information regarding this strain of cantaloupes, 
an inquiry was directed to Mr. J. P. Pollock asking for a short his¬ 
tory of the cantaloupe while it was in his hands. The following 
is his reply:— 
1908 Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, Oct. 6th, 1905. 
Mr. P. K. Blinn, 
Dear Sir:— 
Yours at hand; I note what you say regarding the Pollock cantaloupe 
with pleasure, mainly because if you are correct in your conclusions as 
to its rust resisting qualities, I have been instrumental in doing good to 
the community. 
Now as to its history; I began growing the strain nine years ago in 
Holbrook, my first experience in melon culture and farming in Colorado. 
I got two lots of seed from Ellingwood and Houck, one at 50 cts. per 
lb. and the other at $3.00 per lb.; the 50c seed grew large melons, too large, 
not one tenth being of a size to crate. The $3.00 seed produced good can¬ 
taloupes, most of them good sized and very heavy netted, not a short 
melon but correct in length; I saved my seed selecting the proper size 
and netting,—you may draw your own conclusions as to whether there 
was cross fertilization producing the origin of my future strain. 
The next year I planted at Bocky Ford; I had a fine growth of vines 
and setting of cantaloupes, I distinctly remember the heavy growth of 
vines. It was my first experience with plenty of water, and I over¬ 
watered and the rust struck the patch, and I had quite a failure; the whole 
patch was ruined and I was soon counted out at the platform on the score 
of rusted vines. However, I selected my seed from the patch, selecting a 
large sized melon with a white close netting, and a perfect cantaloupe as 
I remember it, in the midst of the rusted vines; I never had much trouble 
with rust after that, and in the light of your conclusions as to its rust re¬ 
sisting tendencies, I now believe, I unwittingly selected a rust resisting 
melon, as the rest of my crop were slick melons that failed to mature. 
Thereafter I always had my eye on that same type of melon in selecting 
my seed; it was a full large sized melon, with netting over the blossom 
end; not a long melon, but rather inclined to be short, but it had the quali¬ 
ties. By selection I reduced the size of my cantaloupes down till the last 
two years that I grew them they averaged well to crate nicely. I often 
thought of changing my stock of seed,but after going through the season, 
having very little trouble with culls or inferior melons and the quality 
seeming to me superior in comparison with anything I could get hold of, 
I stayed with it. I could easily see that they had peculiarities of their 
own compared with other cantaloupes. 
Now if the using of my name in this connection meets with your ap¬ 
proval, it is certainly satisfactory to me, and I will feel honored. 
Wishing you success in the work and asking for a copy of your Bulletin, 
I am, 
Yours truly. 
J. P. Pollock. 
This bit of history reveals why this strain of seed shows re¬ 
sistant tendency; it has a line of selection to that end, though un¬ 
intentional at the time. There is an old law in nature called the 
“Survival of the fittest,” it applies to plants as well as animals; it 
simply means that in nature individuals that are able to grow and 
develop in the midst of adverse conditions are thus naturally se¬ 
lected to resist the attacks of their enemies. It is for this reason 
