Jill' S«*IM' «f "iWim 1 ■■■ mm mm JSP iffllil 81 tMiii mm ' . . .-u Wu}. mm £««khh m&BfmS Bulletin 70 January, 1900 NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS BY F. WM. KANE NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS DURHAM NEW HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION DURHAM, N. H. BOARD OF CONTROL. Hon. JOHN G. TALLANT, Chairman, Pembroke. Hon. GEORGE A. WASON, New Boston. CHARLES W. STONE, A. M., Secretary, Andover. HENRY W. KEYES, A. M., Haverhill. Pees. CHARLES S. MURKLAND, ex officio, Durham. THE STATION COUNCIL. Pres. CHARLES S. MURKLAND, A. M., Ph. D., Acting Director. FRED W. MORSE, B. S., Vice-Director and Chemist. CHARLES H. PETTEE, A. M., C. E., Meteorologist. HERBERT H. LAMSON, M. D., Bacteriologist. CLARENCE M. WEED, D. So., Entomologist. FRANK WM. BANE, B. Age., M. S., Horticulturist. CHARLES WM. BURKETT, M. S., Agriculturist. FREDERICK S. JOHNSTON, B. S., Associate Agriculturist. ASSISTANTS. WILLIAM F. FISKE, Assistant Entomologist. CLARENCE W. WAID, B. S., Assistant Horticulturist. ROSCOE H. SHAW, B. S., Assistant Chemist. HARRY A. CLARK, B. S., Assistant Chemist. FIARRY P. RICHARDSON, B. S., Assistant in Agriculture. FREDERICK C. KEITH, Clerk. EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS BY FRAXK W1I. EAXE The experimental work with muskmelons has been con- tinued since publishing the first report, New Hampshire Ex- periment Station Bulletin Xo. 52. Next to the strawberry there has been no garden crop which the general public has shown more interest in. Experiments with the following subjects have been con- ducted: I. Monoecious vs. Perfect Flowers II. Picking Time III. Transplanting vs. Sowing Seed IV. Pinched vs. Unpinched Vines V. Removing Male Blossoms VI. Xew Foreign Variety . VII. Variety Test (Second report) . • % i Page 18 " 20 . " 22 " 24 . " 25 " 25 . " 28 18 EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS EXPERIMENT NO. I MONCECTOUS VS. PERFECT FLOWERS Among the interesting things found out in studying the muskmelon is that while we have considered this fruit to be monoecious, generally speaking, I find it is perfect. Out of ninety-three varieties examined the pistillate or female blos- soms contained stamens and pollen in eighty-three. The re- maining ten to all appearances were monoecious, and consist entirely of the larger varieties, viz., Nos. 3, 37, 43, 44, 54, 56, GO, 76, 82, and 87. For names see pages 31-33. My attention was first called to the fact when examining the so-called pistillate flowers of the forcing house when plan- ning an experiment in hand pollination and crossing. The forcing house melons being in advance of those outside, the experiment began here. Upon examining the first pistil- late flower, I was surprised to find what I took to be well-de- veloped stamens. Further examination with the other varieties in the house also pointed to a similar conclusion. Upon still further inves- tigation with the microscope, I found that not only were they well developed but that these stamens were very prolific with pollen. On comparing them with those of the pistillate flow- ers, in each case coming from the same varieties, the pollen was equally as abundant. Thinking this might be a freak due to the unusual condi- tions of the forcing house, or, second, a mistake as regards the purported facts, further examination was carried on as fol- lows: In order to settle the first question, these same varieties were examined out of doors as they came into bloom and were found not to vary in the least. Being further interested in the question, Mr. A. Z. Norcross, an advanced student, was delegated in the summer of 1898 to examine all of the varieties, which resulted in the data given above. Upon consultation into the literature upon the sub- ject as far as I was able to go, the fact is not recognized. Gray's Manual of Botany, "The flowers are dioecious or monoecious";. MONOECIOUS V. PERFECT FLOWERS 19 Y- 20 EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS Nicholson's Dictionary of Gardening, "The flowers are monoe- cious and are produced in the axis of the leaf stock, the males being far the most numerous of the two sexes"; Bailey's For- cing Book, "Melons are monoecious, that is, the sexes are borne in separate flowers on the same plant; the first flowers to open are always males or staminate and it may be two weeks after these blossoms appear that the females or pistillate begin to form." In order to determine whether the pollen from these staminate flowers is fertile or prepotent, many flowers were covered just previous to opening and then pollinated with their own pollen, artificially, omitting some to see if they were capable of self-fertilization. "We were successful in setting the fruit through the artificial means, although out of twenty-four blossoms covered but not hand pollinated no fruit set. This work has been carried on now for two seasons, and the present season fruit has been produced from the seed taken from the fruit which was fertilized with pollen produced in the so-called pistillate flower. To what extent the pollen of the pistillate flower is effective upon the •fruit itself I am not prepared to state, but a close examination of the pistillate flower and the method of insect visitation leads me to think that the pistil, which is tri-lobed, is more easily self-fertile than otherwise. Further investigation is needed to determine various points. That the muskmelon is monoecious, however, needs some quali- fications, and especially where the practical bearing comes is that the horticulturist in crossing these fruits should remem- ber that the majority of our cultivated varieties, and practi- cally all of the smaller sized varieties, contain perfect flowers. EXPEEIMEXT NO. II PICKING TIME There seems to be no general rule for the best time to pick muskmelons equally applicable to all varieties. To allow them to ripen or turn yellow upon the vines usually results in a loss PICKING TIME 21 of the fine flavor and desirable texture of the flesh. With most of the smaller or Gem type, and many of the medium class, as soon as the melon begins to ripen it cracks about the stem more or less. As soon as this takes place and the fruit com< - off easily leaving the stem behind, the fruit should be gathered and put in a cool place or sent to market. This cracking about the stem is very noticeable with some varieties from their excreting a few drops of bright red or salmon-colored juice. In some of the larger varieties the stem does not separate from the fruit, or else when it does it leaves too large a hole in the rind. In such cases it is best to cut the stem leaving the lower j)ortion attached to the fruit. Perhaps the most desirable method of telling when these larger melons are ripe is to watch carefully for the first signs of yellowing, which usually appear first in the middle portion of the fruit. As soon as these traces of yellow are seen they should be picked. The conditions of the weather have much to do with the fruit ripening. On hot days fruit ripens very quickly and it is often advisable to make two pickings, one early in the cool portion of the morning and again in the afternoon. An expe- rienced person can usually tell by the general appearance and sense of smell of the fruit; even with the small Gem melons, with a little experience, one can pick out the ripe melons without looking at the characteristic separations about the stem end. With the dark-skinned varieties it is perhaps more difficult, but even here the general remarks already made apply equally well. While on this subject we may also be asked, how is the consumer who purchases this fruit upon the market to know whether it is ripe or not? This question is not an easy one and somewhat problematical. With the small or Gem melons, they should not have been picked until the stem separates from them; hence if the stems are on they undoubtedly were picked green and are of doubtful value. It will be noticed, however, that many of the earlier of these fruits that come from the South to our northern markets do have their stems on and a portion of them may be fair flavored for that season of the 22 EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS year; the way shewn me by a large dealer as the best method of detecting the superior fruits is to select those stemless, as already described, or those from which the stem easily sepa- rates; then by smelling of the fruit at the stem end, the aroma present will indicate their value. If none is detected, or a very slight one, the fruit will be of little value. In case the stem is already removed the same test is applied, but the fruit should be scraped with a knife or, more commonly, the thumb nail, where the stem was sev- ered, and this aids in the detection of aroma and hence flavor. With the larger varieties the general appearance and sense of smell are perhaps the only index as to quality. Each variety has its characteristics and the more one ac- quaints himself with them the better judgment he has as t© picking time. A good muskmelon picked and marketed at the proper time usually is delicious, while if too green or allowed to over-ripen it becomes a rebuke to the melon trade. EXPERIMENT NO. Ill TRANSPLANTING PLANTS STARTED EARLY VS. SOWING SEED OUT OF DOORS This experiment as planned and conducted was to determine the comparative yield of the two methods of growing musk- melons and to determine if the transplanted plants produce fruit enough earlier to compensate for the extra care necessa- rily given them. A large plot was set aside for this experiment and the three varieties shown in Fig. 2 were used. These varieties are early and found to be very desirable in our markets. Two rows consisting of fourteen hills of the transplanted and one row planted with seeds were devoted to the No. 23 Rose Gem. A similar planting with two rows of the seed was made of the No. 80, Netted Gem, and with No. 85, True Jenny Lind, but one row was transplanted and two planted with seed. TRANSPLANTING 23 The planting and transplanting was made out of doors, on June 1, the hills being similarly prepared. The transplanted plants were obtained by starting the seed in thumb pots and then transplanting into a four-inch pot, from these hardening off in a cold frame, then transplanting. TABLE I. Comparativt yield of transplanted and seed sown in the hill for the whole season. Method of JtoseGe™;. planting. Average per Netted Gem. Average per hill. True Jenny Lind. Average per hill. Seed 184-5 " 15 2-9 fruit. 15 4-5 ••• 10 1-2 fruit. 12 3 10 " Average yield 16 1-8 fruit. 15 1-2 fruit. 1 1 2-5 fruit. It will be seen that with each variety those hills planted with seed outvielded the others when the whole season's yield is considered. TABLE IT. Comparative earliness of yield of transplanted and seed sown in hills to September 5th. Yield in each case from ten hills. - - s. VARIETY eo c^ 1-* (N fc'c +3 5 o < 1. CO 23 Transplanted .. 23 Seed 80 Transplanted .. SO Seed 85 Transplanted., 85 Seed 11 3 10 2 <; 3 o c O 12 30 18 9 12 13 23 17 4 (J 2 10 1 6 9 This table shows that the transplanted hills were earlier, and up to September 5 were in advance from point of yield. From September 5 on, however, the planted hills outyielded, as is shown in Table I. 24 EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS Whether this extra early yield will pay for the extra kbor can only be determined by the conditions and facilities of the grower. Generally speaking, it is doubtless a questionable undertak- ing, but in a few instances might be profitable. The experiment in point of earliness shows bat compar- atively few fruits and but ten days in the extreme, and but a few days in the majority of cases, in favor of the transplanted plants. EXPERIMENT NO. IV PIXCHED VS. UXPIXCHED VIXES This experiment was planned and-' conducted to determine the value of pinching or heading-in the melon vines, as com- pared with allowing them to take their natural growth. The following table represents the plot used for this experiment. In row "B" the vines were nipped when they were three feet long and then the laterals were again nipped or pinched in> not allowing over one or two fruit to set on each. In row "D" the main vine was pinched but no laterals; the others were allowed to take their natural growth. TABLE III. Results from Pinched and Unpinohed Vines. VARIETY ^A. z '3 B. c '3 C. P. E. o 55 '3 '3 /. '3 — £ a Rose Gem Rose Gem Rose Gem Netted Gem Netted Gem Netted Gem True Jenny Lind True Jenny Lind True Jenny Lind — Netted Gem Average per hill 12 11 21 20 17 19 12 20 8 IS 15.8 12.9 13.4 22. S 18.2 28.8 21.8 18.8 22.7 8.0 13.6 19 15 17 # 13 22 * 14 14 11 19 5 17.5 1G.8 * 166 20 3 * 17 2 17.6 11 3 18.1 15.6 17.1 11 9 14 10 22 10 11 12 12 15 12.6 12. S 17 17.3 10 13.5 10.8 16 18.5 15 15 4 12.4 26 21.1 16 15 4 11.1 13 15.0 15 18.3 21.5 13 12.4 14 15.6 14.8 7 9.4 21 20.0 10.6 12 16.2 7 12.6 14.9 7 9.2 11 12 1 17.0 12 154 13 16.5 13.6 11 13 4 9.4 18 15.1 14.5 14.4 14 15.5 1 •> 3 4 5 (5 7 s 9 10 * Absent. REMOVING MALE BLOSSOMS 25 It will be noted thai the experiment shows little if any gain. In fact, if the time required in executing the work be taken into consideration the experiment would indicate a loss; espe- cially i> this indicated in row "D" Row *kB," where both the main vine and lateral- were nipped, shows better returns, but even here the work necessitated is more than in row "D." The conclusion points to there being little if any gain from pinching or heading-in the muskmelon when grown out of doors. EXPERIMENT XO. V REMOVING MALE BLOSSOMS The fact that there is such an abundance of the staminate flowers and that they appear so long in advance of the pistillate or perfect ones lends an air of mystery as to their usefulness. The following experiment was undertaken to see if by re- moving the staminate flowers any effect could be noticed in the production of fruit. Row "A" Table III, was selected for this experiment and the row was daily gone over, except in rainy weather, until August 18. The exact number of flowers was not counted, but under ordinary conditions from 150 to 300 of these staminate flowers were picked daily from the ten hills. The results, as indicated 9 in Table III, show that this row ("A") gave the largest yield both as to number and average weight of fruit. When we take into consideration the great amount of labor necessitated, however, it cannot be recommended as practical. EXPERIMENT XO. VI NEW FOREIGX VARIETY We were fortunate in getting from the United States depart- ment of agriculture samples of muskmelon seeds from each of the now introductions included in •"Inventory Xo. 1"*: "For- eign Seeds and Plants/*' 26 EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS Unfortunately the past season was extremely dry and many of the seeds did not germinate readily. Out of about one him- dred that fruited, only one approached anything of special value. This variety was "Lida," No. GO (The United States -department number), from Moscow, Russia. Collected by Prof. Hansen, February, 1898. Fig. 3. Variety "Lida" (Russian). Figure 3 is a photograph of the fruit grown here at the sta- tion. The fruit is medium size, not netted, round to oval, strongly ribbed. The flesh is a deep salmon, rich, juicy, and delicate. Skin thin, flesh thick, small cavity. Matures in New Hampshire, — very promising. Fi<;. 4. Varieties of Muskmelckns. l. Apple-shaped Cantaloupe. 7. Cosmopolitan. 8. Netted Beauty. 9. Golden Gem. l"). Mango. 16. Emerald Gem. 'J7. New Hybrid. 50. Champion Market. 53. Chicago Nutmeg. 55. Irondequoit. 28 EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS EXPERIMENT XO. VII VARIETY TEST: MUSKMEILOXS IX THE XORTH The results of two additional seasons with these same vari- eties together with the later introductions, make this the sec- ond report more complete. The first report, "New Hampshire Experiment Station Bulletin Xo. 52/J contains figures and descriptions of all varieties numbering up to sixty, with the exception of illustrations of numbers 1, T, 8, 9, 27, 50, 53, and 55. Figure 4 in this bulletin contains these missing numbers and also a correction of numbers 15 and 16. They should be as represented in Fig. 4 of this report. The season of 1898 was ideal for all vines, the muskmelon included. The results from this season we believe can be de- pended upon to set forth the possibilities of the melon in the North. Melons that did not ripen in 1898 cannot be relied upon to mature in northern climates. The general conditions of culture, etc., as outlined in Bulle- tin 52, were carried out with both crops. The land selected was a lightish clay loam, which had grown a crop of onions the previous year, and was therefore in good cultivation. A culti- vated crop with a heavy application of barnyard manure pre- ceded the onion crop, which was itself fertilized with a good dressing of commercial fertilizer. In the spring the plot was harrowed into a very mellow condition, marked out five by six feet, and each hill received a large shovelful of rich com- post and a handful of bone meal. The hills were then thor- oughly mixed with this plant food and planted June 1. There were at least two hills of each variety planted and ninety-five in all. The hills were thinned to three plants each on July 12. Cultivation was kept up at frequent intervals until the plants covered the ground. During extremely dry times the melons were irrigated from the main college water system. Xot much was gained, however, as a neighboring plot, under similar con- ditions but without water, was equally productive. The melon appears able to withstand drouth as well as almost any garden GROWING MUSKMELONS IN THE NORTH 20 crop. 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Atlantic City. Varieties <>f Muskmelonh. 65. Improved Jenny. 66. Acme. 67. Citron. 68. Ward's Nectar. 69. McCotter's Pride. to. Shipper's Delight. 72. Ivy Gem. 73. Golden Eagle. 38 EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS NOTES ON VARIETIES For general notes and illustrations upon varieties numbering from 1 to 60, consult Bulletin No. 52 of this station. A few illustrations were missed and are now given for the first time in Fig. 3, this bulletin. For exterior appearance of each of the following thirty-six varieties consult the photograph of each as shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7. 60. Large White French (Landreth). Oblong- melon of large size, 7% by 11% inches. Color whitish green turning to yellow when ripe; flesh orange. Too late for the North. 61. Netted Nutmeg (Landreth) . Round, fairly productive; dark green, ribbed, slightly netted, flavor sweet, regular in form, green tlesh. 62. Large Black Paris (Landreth). Many vines and but few fruit. Ribbed and slightly netted, flesh green, size 8 by 12. 63. Anne Arundel (Landreth). Large melon, 6 by 8% inches, ribs shallow, distinct, and heavily netted, flesh green. 64. Atlantic City (Landreth). Medium in size, pineapjfle in shape, 6 by 10 inches, dark background netted and ribbed. Flesh green, medium productiveness. 65. Improved Jenny (Landreth). A typical dark green Hack- ensack type. Fruit very uniform, 5% inches in diameter, lightish green flesh of fair quality. 66. Acme (Landreth). Dark green, small, oblong, 4 by 5% inches, peaked at stem end, flesh green, productive, ribbed and netted. 67. Citron (Landreth). Large, dark green, ribbed, partly netted and rest smooth, rather distorted, all sizes, productive, rather late, flesh salmon. 68. Ward's Nectar (Gregory). Dark, round, 5y2 inches in diam- eter, ribbed, smooth and one half netted, fairly productive but few ripened, flesh green, Gem type. 69. McCottcr's Pride (Ferry). Large vines, fruit irregular, roundish, dark green, ribbed, slightly netted, orange red flesh, not very productive and late this season. 70. Shippers' Delight (Johnson & Stokes). Tines small but pro- ductive, fruit 3y2 by 3% inches, each melon having a button on the blossom end, shape round, netted and ribbed, good quality', flesh green. 71. Togoodo (Johnson & Stokes). Good sized, light green, smooth melons, not sufficiently mature, plants strong, large leaf. NOTES ON VARIETIES 39 72. Ivy Gem (Johnson & Stokes). Medium size, yellow-fleshed sort, skin smooth to slightly netted, lightish in color, ribbed, glob- ular in form, not very productive this season, good quality. 73. Golden Eagle (Burpee). Slightly elongated melon, 5% by &y2 inches, peaked at tip, shallow ribbed, heavily netted, regular in shape. 7 4. Arlington Nutmeg (Farquhar). Good size, 8 by Sy2 inches, round to flattened, deep ribbed, netted, flesh pale yellow. 75. Honey Drop (Farquhar). Dark green, smooth, ribbed, slightly elongated, 5% by 6 inches, resembles osage somewhat, flesh yellow to salmon, good quality. 76. Cassabah (Dreer). Large, regular, long melon, 9 to 11 inches long by 5% to 7 inches broad, heavity netted, ribbed, dark- ish in grooves, flesh green, a good melon. 77. Blenheim (Weeber & Don). Smooth, round, grayish melon, slightly flat, 4% by 5 inches. The fruit checks as it ripens and the vines are thick and compact. Too late for out of doors. 78. Hero of Lockinge (Weeber & Don). Very late to mature, vines thick, double stem, fruit but partly grown, size 4y2 by 6 inches. A forcing variety. TO. Conqueror of Europe (Weeber & Don). But two fruit of this variety matured. Fair size, 6 by 7 inches, elongated and dark green. SO.r. Netted Gem (Burpee). Small, gem type, oval, very shallow ribs, netted, green fleshed. Bipens early and is very productive. 51. Queen of All (Salzer). Oblong, shallow ribbed, netted, flesh salmon. Bipens rather late. 52. Nectar of Angels (Salzer). Good size, white melon, 7y2 by 7*4 inches, deep ribbed, lightly netted and has a tendency to check as it approaches ripening, yellow when ripe, flesh pale yellow, flavor not very sweet though good. 83. No. 555 (Buckbee). A round, smooth, netted, dark green variety. Too late. 84. Superior (Vaughan). Small, round, 4 by 5 inches, dark green variety, fruit checks as it approaches ripening stage, no ribs, somewhat flattened, flesh green. Productive but late. 85. True Jenny Lind (Vaughan). Small, Gem type, flattened, shallow ribbed, netted. This variety in an adjoining plot ripened much earlier than in this test, Flesh green, fine flavor, prolific and early. A very desirable variety. 86. Giant Chicago Market (Vaughan). Medium sized, oy2 by 6y2 inches, round, green flesh, shallow ribs, netted. Medium pro- ductive but rather late. S7. Improved Cantaloupe (Vaughan). Medium to large and long, iy2 by 12 inches, lightish color but dark green in grooves, Fig. 6. Varieties of Muskmelosts. 74. 7.->. 7<>. 78. 7JI. Arlington Nutmeg. Honey Drop. Cassabah. Blenheim's Orange. Hero of Lockinge. Conqueror of Europe. 80. Netted Gem. 81. Queen of All. 82. Nectar of Angels. 83. Buekbee No. :>:>:>. 84. Superior. 85. True Jenny Lind. • ^ 86. Giant Chicago Market. 87. Improved Cantaloupe. 88. Oval Netted Gem. 80. Southern Beauty. REJECTED LIST. 41 deep ribbed and fruit tapers at ends, flavor much like Long- Yel- low (54), fairly prolific. Not as good as Granite State (37). SS. OkiI Netted Gem (Vaughan). Small Gem type, oval, regu- lar, 4 by 5 inches, elongated, very shallow ribs, netted. Prolific and desirable. S9. Southern Beauty (Vaughan). Elongated, oys by 8 inches, dark green, netted and shallow ribbed, good flavor, green flesh. Not very productive. 90. Montreal Nutmeg (Vaughan). Flat, Gy, by 8 inches, dark green, deep, large checks appear as fruit ripens, ribbed, netted. Too late. 91. Princes® (Vaughan). Dark green, size 5y2 by 8 inches, ob- long, ribbed and thinly netted. Too late. 92. Perfection (Vaughan). Good size, 7 by 7 inches, round, Ilackensack form and appearance only a darker green, fairly early, regular and productive, flesh pale yellow, deeply ribbed and netted. 93. Paul Rose (.Vaughan). ' Small Gem type, oval, 4y2 by G inches, salmon flesh, shallow ribbed and coarsel}' netted, extra flavor. Regular and productive. 94. Round Netted Gem (Vaughan). Small Gem type, oval, shal- low ribs, coarse nettings, green flesh. Early and productive. 95. Kinsman Queen (Banning). Medium to large, flattened, deep ribbed, not netted, drab before ripe taking on a yellow tint as it ripens, flesh salmon, good flavor. Very productive and. fairly earty. 96. Rocky Ford (Henderson). Small Gem type, resembles Net- ted Gem type in ever}' particular. REJECTED LIST The following list of thirty-two varieties are thought to be too late for general growing in the North. The basis for their rejection is on account of their not ripening at least four fruit on two hills before September 20. 1. Apple-shaped Cantaloupe. 14. Jersey Belle. 2. Triumph. 19. Perfected Delmonico 4. Melrose. 21. Market. 5. Cannon Ball. 22. Tip Top. 6. Green-Fleshed Osage. 27. Xew Hybrid. S. Xetted Beaut}'. 28. Triumph. 32. Lone Star. 34. Columbus. 13. Miller's Cream. o8. Carmes. Fig. 90. Montreal Nutmeg. 91. Princess. Varieties <>i Muskmelons. 92. Perfection. 93. Paul Rose. 94. Round Netted Gem. 95. Kinsman Queen. CREAM OF THE VARIETIES. 43 39. Shuraway's Giant. 43. Bay View. 51. Banana. 60. Large White French. G2. Large Black Paris. G4. Atlantic City. *> GO. McCotter's Pride. 71. Togoodo. 7 5. Honey Drop. 77. Blenheim's Orange. 78. Hero of Lockinge. 79. Conqueror of Europe. 83. Buckbee No. 555. 89. Southern Beauty. '.)(). Montreal Nutmeg. 91. The Princess. The following varieties also are discarded for reasons indi- cated: 3. Extra Early Grand Rapids; cracks open bad]}'. 11. No. S3, too small. 15. Mango; valuable only for pickles. 70. Shippers' Delight; very small. CREAM OF THE VAEIETIES FOE THE NOETH The following list of nmskmelons consisting of forty-two va- rieties is thought to contain those best suited for northern conditions. Each of these varieties has ripened at least one third or more of its total fruit (ripe and green) before Septem- ber 20. 9. 10. 16. 18. 23. 25. 29. 30. 32. 33. : ; .' . 41. 44. 4 5. 40. 47. 48. 49. 50. Cosmopolitan. Golden Gem. Captain. Emerald Gem. Newport. Rose Gem. Long Island Beauty. Earliest Pipe. Cosmopolitan. Satisfaction. Jenny Lind. Pineapj)le. Granite State. Early Nutmeg. Delmonico. Extra Earlv Hackensack. New White Japan. Skillm an's Fine Netted. Christiana. Extra Early Cantaloupe. Champion Market. 52. Surprise. 53. Chicago Nutmeg. 54. Long Yellow. 56. Casaba. ■58. Bird Cantaloupe. 59. Missouri. G3. Anne Arundel. 65. Pmproved Jenny. G6. Acme. 67. Citron. 68. Ward's Nectar. 74. Arlington Nutmeg. 7G. Cassabah. 80. Netted Gem. 81. Queen of All. 82. Nectar of Angels. 85. True Jenny Lind 87. Improved Cantaloupe 88. Oval Netted* Gem. 94. Round Netted Gem. 95. Kinsman Queen. 44 EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS LIST OF BEST TO RECOMMEND FOR THE NORTH Of the Gem type, try any of the following: No. 88, Oval Netted Gem; No. 57, Golden Netted Gem; No. 80, Netted Gem; No. 23, Rose Gem; No. 93, Paul Rose (yellow flesh); No. 16, Emerald Gem (yellow .flesh). Of the medium type, No. 45, Extra Early Hackensaek; No. 95, Kinsman Queen; No. 32, Satisfaction; No. 53, Chicago Nut- meg; No. 65, Improved Jenny; No. 46, New White Japan; No. 82, Nectar of Angels; No. 49, Extra Early Cantaloupe; No. 66, Acme. Of the large long type, No. 37, Granite State; No. 54, Long Yellow; No. 87, Improved Cantaloupe. ■ - : 1MB - SIMM iff •