34 
DE GIORGI BROTHERS CO 
Muskmelon 
CULTURE—1 oz. of seed for 50 hills; 1 lb. for 1 acre. 
Sandy soil, well enriched with manure, is the best for 
melons. Have the hills 4 by 5 feet, dropping 10 seeds in each 
hill, so as to feed mice and cutworms and still have a good 
stand. Leave only three strongest plants in each hill. When 
the plants start to vine we fertilize the field with 300 lbs. of 
cotton seed meal to the acre. Open shallow furrows between 
the rows, scatter the meal moderately thick and cultivate 
same in the ground. This hastens the crop to maturity. The 
melons are more heavily netted and almost free from culls. 
In case of a cold spell with plants up early in the spring, 
go over the patch with a hoe and cover up the young plants 
with dirt and remove the dirt when danger of frost is past. 
To make Muskmelon growing a paying proposition plant 
the seed as early as in your judgment is safe. While in the 
“baby” stage, the plants are liable to be badly injured if not 
ruined by a cold beating rain. All growers know these cold 
spring rains and the resulting damage. A beating rain de¬ 
stroys the thread-like roots of the young plants, severely 
checking them in growth. In many cases the plants “come 
out of it” but to expect an early crop of melons is out of 
question. To get an early crop of melons examine your 
plants after every rain and replant whenever you see that 
the plants were damaged. You cannot expect an early crop 
from plants that have been checked in their growth. 
Which Is the Best Muskmelon 
The best and most popular is Hale’s Best. The best large 
sized melon to grow for local markets is the old Tip Top. 
The spiciest, sweetest and finest of ALL muskmelons is the 
old Rockyford. But it is a late maturing melon and in too 
many sections it cannot be successfully grown. NEW MUSK¬ 
MELONS. New muskmelons come out every year by the 
dozen. All these new ones are highly recommended but later 
it “develops” that some of the new ones were badly over¬ 
praised. We do not list new melons preferring to “wait and 
see.” We will list some of the new ones next year if they 
will prove really good, better than the old varieties. We 
mention the names of new varieties of muskmelons so that 
you will not be under the impression that we are behind the 
times. They are: Golden Marvel, Golden Globe, Woodside 
Winner, New Abbott, Jade Beauty, Colorado Queen and others. 
HOW TO TELL WHEN A MUSKMELON IS RIPE—The 
net on a ripe melon is hard, the net on unripe melons is soft, 
so that it can be easily rubbed off. 
Muskmelons are rich in health-giving vitamines. Of the 
total solids in a ripe muskmelon about 70% are invert sugars. 
Muskmelons should not be wrapped preparatory to a 
long distance shipment, because when wrapped they are 
slower in cooling and do not retain their edible qualities as 
long as when shipped unwrapped. 
FOR LOCAL MARKET muskmelons are gathered when on 
a "full slip,” when the melons are dead ripe and "slip” off the 
vines. 
MUSKMELON GOLDEN QUEEN (83 days) 
Originated with one of the melon growers in our locality. 
This grower made quite a bit of money selling his melons 
when the times were not as tough as they are at present at 
50c per melon never for less and many a melon went for 75c 
and as high as a dollar a piece for the biggest ones. In spite 
of his being there when it comes to charging, his customers 
were on the lookout for his melons. Golden Queen is a large 
melon of high quality averaging 15 pounds per fruit, heavily 
ribbed and heavily netted, outsells any other melon on the 
market and is ready for the market three days ahead of Hale’s 
Best. This may sound like a fairy tale yet these are the facts. 
Not suitable for shipping. Pkt. 10c ; oz. 15c; lb. $1.20. 
MUSKMELON HEARTS OF GOLD (88 days) 
Same as Hoodoo. A very popular, round melon, size 7 by 
5 inches, weight two pounds per melon. Moderately netted, 
ribs fairly distinct, pink flesh, very thick, sweet and spicy. 
First class shipping melon as it remains edible for several 
days. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; lb. 90c. 
MUSKMELON SUGAR ROCK (85 days) 
Medium sized, of striking appearance, almost round, heav¬ 
ily netted, flesh deep orange, sweet, sugary and VERY firm. 
Rind very tough. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; lb. 90c. 
HALE’S BEST No. 36 (86 days) 
The original H. B. lacked quality, its value was earliness 
and appearance. Since then numerous strains were developed. 
The strain we offer is the BEST of all, the same as used by 
the growers in Imperial Valley, who are very hard to satisfy. 
Their using of our strain of H. B. confirms what we claim, 
namely that it is the best strain, possessing earliness and 
producing melons of large size, beautifully neted with THICK 
sweet flesh. Every pound of seed is hand cut, all melons not 
perfect are discarded. No. 36 is desirable for any purpose; 
roadside stand, for shipment by truck, or packing for dis¬ 
tant markets. Flesh salmon pink, very thick, average weight 
per melon 3 lbs. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; lb. 90c; 10 lbs. $7.00. 
BANANA MUSKMELON (94 days) 
The fruit attains a length of 20 to 30 inches, and a diam¬ 
eter of about 4 inches. Flesh of rich orange color, deep and 
of exquisite flavor. Smells and looks like a gigantic banana. 
This is a very valuable melon and sells in choice city mar¬ 
kets, 50 cents or more being sometimes demanded for a single 
specimen. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; *4 lb. 25c; lb. $1.00. 
PERFECTION ORANGE FLESH (92 days) 
At present this is the highest type of Rockyford. 
The melons are almost perfectly round, heavily netted, no 
ribs, the orange flesh is extremely thick, sweet and spicy. 
Heavily productive. First rate shipper, local or long distances. 
Considered by many as the finest melon in existence when 
quality is the first consideration. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; lb. 90c; 
10 lbs. $7.00. 
ROCKY FORD (92 days) 
We have an exceptionally fine strain of this standard 
melon. Heavily and finely netted, weighing about 2*/6 pounds 
each. Green fleshed. Highly rust resistant, very heavily 
productive. Pkt. 5c; oz. 10c; lb. 90c; 10 lbs. $7.00, prepaid. 
