Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-08-17
FROM THE
MELON FIELDS.
Improved Prospects Both in
Quantity and Quality.

hoout Ten uhys since, the ship
ments have steadily increased, but
not n rapidly as in former years.
The rust in fields adjacent to
Rocky Ford cut down the output
very materially. The damage to
some growers has been very great
but the majority Of the fields have
not been touched by rust. The
result will be that the first half OF
the season will rot show nearly as
great shipments M expected, but
the late growers promise TO come
in splendidly on the "home
stretch" The fields outside the
immediate vicinity Of Rocky Ford
promise very large yields aud the
prospect is good for highly profit
able prices. I"
The rust il n matter tlnt should
be carefully studied that measures
may be taken to prevent it's furth-
er spread next year. The various
associations should collect all
available data bearing ON the sub
ject for the guidance Of growers in
the future.
Yesterday the Rocky Ford asso-
citation shipped 30l crates Of canta
loupes and 200 wnternelons.
Grand Valley yesterday shipped
! cars Of wntermelons. Manager
Brnnnon reports the outlook for
cantnloupes ~ being splendid
both ns to quantity and quality.
II. ID. Garwood left yesterday
for Holly and other stations east
to see how the business looks.
During the balance Of tho season
Mr.. Gnrwood will be on the wing,
inspecting the conditions sur
rounding each association in the
valley.
The enterprise Of the Western
Poultry and Game company il
shown III providing the 300
which the Santa Fc asked to put
in switch Mt Newdnlc and by
building the long ard wide shed
beside the melon platform at
Rocky Ford. This shed gives the
wagons n cool, shady place in which
to stand while unloading and will
tend to get the melons IN the cars
in good condition.
4 few weeks ago the Enterprise
spoke Of Cur Of Arkansas canta-
loupes bringing $3.50 in the New
York market. The express car
which took TINT high priced lot
enst is numbered Gag. 1t came to
Rocky Ford n few days since and
left for st. Louis last night, being
the first full cur of the season. q
46 is lucky car and We shall ex-
pect to hear good report from
tins shipment.
The care with which Mr.. Wet.
zel's force is packing crates in the
cars indicates that he is doing his
best to have the goods get to their
destination in good shape. Ample
spnce for ventilation is provided
on four sides, top and bottom of
each crate. With inspectors sta
toned at various points on the
eastern roads to look after the
refrigeration we shall expect that
our cantaloupes are going to
reach the east in the best possible
condition and bring the highest
prices.
When in Mr.. Wetzel's office for
five minutes yesterday lie received
four telegrams. Two Of them
were orders for cars of melons
from mountain points. One gave
Denver quotations, and the fourth
brought the cheerful information
that the last express shipments to
ST. Louis brought 81 per crate.
The Newdale association is
coming right to the front as ship
pers of large lots of the finest
of cantnloupes.
The cheapest ginghams are to
be had Mt Phenicie's. Cost is not
considered.
The grent hail storm of Sun
day night totally destroyed The
cantaloupe crop i'll the vicinity of
Pueblo.
The cantaloupe prospects
have greatly improved in the last
three days. The vines have put
on more thrifty look and the
quality of the melons is vastly
better. The gloom which was on
the faces of the growers during
the earlier days of shipment has
disappeared to be succeeded by
great expectations.