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ROCKY FORD 
MUSK MELON 
D' 
yURING the Autumn months of the last two years there have been shipped to 
the New York and other Northern markets many carloads of this variety of 
Melon from the growers of Rocky Ford, Col., fl ora which the name is derived, 
and we venture to say that the advent of this valuable variety has done more to 
popularize Musk Melons than any other sort. 
We have been fortunate in securing sufficient seed of this valuable kind to offer it to 
our customers, which we do with the greatest confidence, after a series of careful and 
exhaustive trials. It has proved to be a very valuable sort in every respect, somewhat 
resembling the old “ Netted Gem,” but is more oval in shape. The vines are exceedingly 
healthy and vigorous, bearing an enormous quantity of fruits during the entire sea¬ 
son. It is safe to say that no Melon has ever come into the New York markets which has 
sold so readily and at such high prices as the “Rocky Ford.” Enormous prices have been 
paid for this variety to the exclusion of many others. Our colored plate on opposite 
page gives a fairly adequate idea of the general appearance of this sort. 
Ti. - * I* 1 _ J i „ .* i .a /I a a nr. in/linntmn (' 
| Insurpassed in 
u Luscious Flavor. 
Always brings the 
11 Highest Price on 
the Market. 
M ost Desirable Size 
-Ideal tor Dessert. 
n Healthu, Vigorous 
. . . Grower. 
£xceedinglu Prolific. 
It is impossible to overestimate its value, and as an indication of the value of this Musk Melon we may mention that 
last season a grower in Florida actually cleared a net profit of $8,000 from 25 acres of this variety. The ground color 
of the skin is, when ripe, of a rich greenish gold, the netting is very prominent and is light in color, which makes the outer 
appearance very attractive. The flesh is very deep, ripening clear to the rind, and it has an exceedingly small seed cavity. 
It is very sweet and luscious in flavor, and is entirely devoid of any stringy character. Our seed was specially grown for us by 
a careful grower at Rocky Ford, and is the best type of the genuine Rocky Ford Musk Melon. 
Price, 15c. pkt., 35c. oz., $1.00 }■£ lb. 
T HIS variety is of Russian origin. We have 
been many years working it up to its pres¬ 
ent perfection, and at last have secured a 
distinct and valuable sort. Many features 
of this Melon are absolutely distinct. The fruits 
are oval in shape, medium in size; the color of 
the rind is dark green, with faint pencillings of a 
lighter shade, and though the rind is thin it is 
very tough. The flesh is very deep, extending 
to within half an inch of the rind, and is en¬ 
tirely different from anything ever known in 
a Watermelon. The color can best be described 
as a rich orange buff, and it is as sweet as any vari • 
ety in cultivation. The Melon grower in our 
Northern latitudes is often compelled to lose a 
large proportion of his crop by reason of prema¬ 
turely cold weather. Ordinary varieties com¬ 
pletely succumb to these early, cold spells, and 
of course fail to ripen the fruit left on the vines. 
But this sort has the peculiarity of ripening 
fruits up quickly, even after such a check, and 
when fruits are only three-quarters grown, and 
ripening them so thoroughly, too, that at the 
least touch of the knife they hurst open with that 
peculiarly full ripeness such as is known in the 
South. Price, 15c. pkt., 35c. oz., $1.00 lb. 
-Sweet Siberian 
“AT the South Dakota State Fair at Yankton, Sept. 
£\ a 6 th to 30 th, first premium for three Watermelons, 
new variety, was awarded to Henderson’s No. 3 
(now named ‘Sweet Siberian’), exhibited by G. A. 
Smith, Gayville, S. D. After being judged I cut these 
Melons, and the quality was pronounced by all excel¬ 
lent.” G. A. SMITH, Gayville, South Dakota. 
* EXPERIMENT STATION OP THE 
I llinois State Horticultural Society. ... 
“ Alton, Ill., July aad, 1898 . 
“I am well pleased with all of the twelve novelties 
received from you this Spring, but I want to speak 
particularly of the Watermelon (Nameless Novelty No. 
3 , now named‘Sweet Siberian’). It began ripeningsome 
two weeks ago, which was earlier than I ever had 
Watermelons ripen before. It seems to be very produc¬ 
tive, and in quality it is most excellent.” 
EDWIN H. RIEHL. 
