12 
bulletin 104. 
Schedule for Seed Selection. 
P-rolific yielding, 
E-arly maturing, 
R-esisting tendency, 
F-orm, size and netting,—ideal, 
E-picurean qualities, sweet and spicy, 
C-avity, small, well filled, 
T-exture, smooth and firm. 
While the field is growing, select and mark any individual 
plants that show exceptional merit along the lines of prolific yield, 
early maturity or resistant power. That such variation frequently 
occurs is plainly shown by the field observations of the past three 
years; many plants were observed which produced only three or 
four cantaloupes during the entire season, while in one instance, 
shown in Plate VI, sixteen large cantaloupes were produced from one 
plant, which would be a very large yield for three or four ordinary 
plants. The variation in maturing was revealed in the compara¬ 
tive test of the five strains of seed before mentioned. Ten days 
elapsed between the first ripe melon on one strain, and the first of 
another, although the rows were given uniform conditions. 
The variation in resistant power has already been indicated. 
One very important feature of the work of seed selection is the 
marking of individual plants which show desirable qualities. The 
seed should be saved separately, labeled and grown by itself, thus 
fixing in the strain these desirable traits. 
In the past the seed saving has been too much from a general 
selection of the melons without regard to the merits of the vines 
from which they grew; and also a common error has been # in giving 
too much attention to the external points of the melon without 
considering its internal qualities. This is well illustrated in 
Plates VII and VIII which show a choice pile of cantaloupes selected 
for outside appearance only; the other view shows some of the same 
melons cut in half revealing the undesirable large open cavity and 
thin flesh of some, and the solid, well filled cavity and thick flesh of 
others. 
When the marked hills reach maturity the vines which reveal the 
most uniform sized cantaloupes of ideal form and netting should 
be taken as the basis for selection. That the size as well as other 
qualities is affected by seed selection is brought out in the letter 
of Mr. J. P. Pollock, in which he states that he “reduced the 
size down until they averaged well to crate.” 
There are many conditions which may affect size and to some 
extent each grower should study his soil from the standpoint of the 
melons which it produces, and govern his selection accordingly. 
The netting of a cantaloupe has long been considered an at¬ 
tractive fancy feature and without question it is the essence of its 
