14 
buu^tin 104 . 
appearance on the market, and experience reveals that it has a 
value in protecting the keeping qualities of the melons on long 
shipments. 
The words “Rocky Ford” scratched on the surface of a green 
melon appeared in the netting at maturity, thus showing that the 
netting of a cantaloupe is merely a tracery of callous formed by 
the natural cracking of the surface of the melon. 
By observation and tests it is shown that a close netted melon 
does not lose weight by evaporation as rapidly as one less covered 
with netting, thus its keeping and shipping qualities are largely 
determined by the amount of netting on its surface. 
Plate IX represents a former ideal Rocky Ford Netted Gem, a 
melon characterized by a close heavy netting divided by clear cut 
sectors. But the tendency of these stripes is to widen under care¬ 
less selection, and in view of the superior keeping qualities of the 
“solid net,” the old ideal is giving way to a type represented in 
Plate X which is a result of a cross of the Pollock strain and the 
melon shown in Plate IX, known as the “Blinn” strain. The form 
is more nearly perfect to fit the standard crates than the ronnd type 
characterizing the Pollock strain, and its internal qualities are in 
keeping with the external appearance. 
The eating qualities of a cantaloupe are the ultimate test of 
its perfection. A cantaloupe produced from a strong healthy vine 
and yet not having a sweet spicy flavor, should never be saved for 
seed. 
The small cavity, solidly filled with seed, ^ thick flesh with 
smooth, firm texture, are obvious points in the value of a marketable 
cantaloupe. These with many minor points should be zealously 
guarded by the careful seed selector. 
There is no absolute, fixed relation existing between the points 
of the above schedule. Thus, the selection of melons for resistant 
powei only, will not insure netting or other qualities. On the 
other hand, an ideally perfect melon, if unable to resist rust, would 
be a failure; but careful attention to all these details in dne pro¬ 
portion, will result in a melon like that shown in Plate X,—a can¬ 
taloupe having a “money basis.” 
