WILLHITE SYMBOL OF PURE VINE SEED SHIPPED NATION WIDE 
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“CONGO" 
CONGO—Variety No. 55—ANTHRACNOSE RESISTANT (USDA-46-40) 
The Congo was developed at the Regional Vege- 
table Breeding Laboratory of the U. S. Department 
of Agriculture at Charleston, S. C., by Drs. C. F. 
Poole and C. F. Andrus. Seed of this variety, then 
known only as USDA-46-40, was offered for in- 
crease in October 1948 and from this source we 
obtained our original stock seed. The name 
Congo was given this new variety to symbolize 
the continent from whence it obtained its resistance 
to Anthracnose. The African variety, after being 
crossed with the “Iowa Belle,’’ was inbred for a 
number of years. This inbred line was crossed 
with the Garrison watermelon in 1941 by Dr. C. F. 
Poole. Selections from this cross being made over 
a number of years by Dr. C. F. Andrus, we now 
have the “Congo” which is definitely resistant, but 
not entirely immune to Anthracnose. It is suscep- 
tible to Downy Mildew and Fusarian Wilt and 
growers are urged to give it the same protection 
by dusting or spraying that they would give other 
varieties. 
The Congo is a large, semi-long or blocky end 
type of melon that matures in 90 days. The rind 
is very tough, dark green in color with a darker 
green stripe; flesh is deep red, very solid with a 
medium grain. This melon possesses total solids 
of 12 per cent (mostly sugar). The seed are slightly 
smaller than the Watson seed, light tan with side 
pattern of darker tan. It has been proven, as a 
result of commercial plantings, that the Congo is 
vastly superior to the other common varieties in 
regard to breakage during shipment. However, 
care should be taken in loading as it is not im- 
mune to bruising. We grow them to weigh 70 
pounds. % lb. 65c; Y2 lb. $1.15; % Ib. $1.65; 1 lb. 
$2.00. Certified Congo $2.50 per lb. SPECIAL 
STOCK, 1 lb. sealed bags, $4.00. All plus postage. 
LIBERAL PACKAGE, ANY VARIETY, 25c. 
“Good Pure Seed from Grower to Grower” 
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