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*sis 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. 
Starting melons in pots or berry boxes for transplanting 
into the field, does not work. You will NEVER get an early 
crop of melons that way. 
Which Is the Best Muskmelon 
The best large sized melon to grow for local markets is 
Jumbo Hale’s Best. Hale’s Best No. 36 is popular for its 
tremendous yields and good quality. 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 MUSKMELONS. New Musk- 
melons 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 all new 
melons, preferring to ‘wait and see.” 
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 CRANSHAW 
Says one of the oldest large muskmelon growers in Cali- 
fornia: Cranshaw melon is the best thing I ever ate, simply 
indescribable, it is so luscious. It’s salmon pink flesh is 
extraordinarily thick and has a sweetness and flavor that so 
far has never been approached by any other melon. 
Cranshaw is a melon with Cassaba blood init. It is egg- 
shaped with a mottled green and gold skin. No netting, it is 
smooth except for very slight wrinkling. The appearance of 
the melon as well as its high quality makes it a melon worth 
while growing. However we recommend Cranshaw only for 
sections where there is not much humidity. In parts where 
rainfall is heavy, Cranshaw is not the melon to grow, also it 
is not a first rate shipping melon. Average weight 6 pounds 
per melon. Pkt. 10c; oz. 20c; Ib. $2.20. 
MUSKMELON GOLDEN DELIGHT (90 days) 
Large broad oval melon of Pride of Wisconsin type but 
larger and earlier. Outstanding for local market but not 
recommended for long distance shipping. Flesh rich golden 
yellow, very sweet and spicy. Pkt. 10c; oz. 60c. 
MUSKMELON IROQUOIS (88 days) 
Bender type melon that met with favor wherever given 
a trial. Does especially well in the Northern half of the 
country. Size of melon 7 x 6 in., skin gray-green heavily 
netted, ribs prominent, rind tough. Flesh thick of deep orange, 
sweet and luscious. Also known under the name of Cornell 
No. 35. Pkt. 10c; 0z. 25c; lb. $2.80. Wilt resistant. 
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 netted 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. 10c; oz. 20c; lb. $2.20. 
JUMBO HALE’S BEST—Fruit considerably larger than 
Hale’s Best No. 36, otherwise the same as No. 36. Popular 
with truckers, market gardeners and for roadside marketing. 
Pkt. 10c; oz. 20c; Ib. $2.20. 
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. 10¢c; oz. 20c; Ib. $2.20. 
MUSKMELON HEARTS OF GOLD (88 days) 
A very popular, round melon, 6%-7 inches in diameter, 
weighing 4-5 lbs. 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. 
10c; oz. 20c; lb. $2.20. 
BROCCOLI RAAB—A variety of turnip with light green, very 
tender leaves and small rosettes resembling the heads of Cala- 
brese Broccoli. Both the heads and leaves are execllent 
greens either boiled or used as salad. 
The SPRING variety is sown in the spring as soon as the 
ground is open, the FALL variety is sown early in Septem 
ber and even later than that, in the South, and the crop is 
ready before heavy frosts setin. Broccoli Raab will become a 
popular vegetable as popular as lettuce and market growers 
will make no mistake by sowing a packet of the seed and thus 
be able to judge for themselves as to whether it would be 
worth while to grow a crop and place it on their local markets. 
CABBAGE EARLY MARVEL is back. That is, we are 
in position to supply the seed of that variety. See descrip- 
tion on page 19. Should be grown or at least tried by every 
grower because it is early and can be marketed over a long 
period without much loss from cracking. Different from 
Golden Acre. 
