Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-08-24
cANTALOUPE SEASON CONTINUES
PROSPEROUS.
Large Shipments Of the Finest Of
Melons doing to the Hum
cry Eastern rlarkets.

Yesterdays rain made break in the
ideal cantaloupe weather which has fav-
ored growers and shippers for the past
week.
Express shipments have been from 4
to 8 cars daily and freight shipments
almost 20 daily.
Tho Lyon cooling process is such a
success that csntaioupes arrive at their
destination practically in the same eondi-
ton as whom they started.
Tho present outlook Is that with q late
rost the valley vii, break tho record for
both extent OF eantaloupo shipments and
for their high quality throughout tho sea-
son.
At tho Lyon & Coggins platform tho
work Of inspection is more strict than ev-
or befSfe. Melons which havo been pick
cd too green are rigidly turned down. and
all crates must be so packed that .thero
can be no movement to tho eantaloupes
to iniure them in transit. This strietness
has caused some kicking but Mr.. Lyon
says that no is running that platform no.
tho growers. and that what ho IS insisting
On having done is only 70 maintain tho
high reputation Of tho Rocky Fords and
make tho most possible money for tho
growers.
Tho quality Of the eantaioupos now be-
ing shipped is tho very best. excepting
OF course. where growers pick melons
which arc too green. they thereby not
having tho requisite amoun, Of sugar. ],
is strange ,ha. with tho experience Of
former years tha; some growers will in
sis, on marketing eantaioupos which
ought 10 remain on tho vines from sever
al days To q week. Tho shipment Of such
stock ls an imposition on the eastern con-
sumer and de.imen, 10 tho reputation
ard price o! tho Rocky Fords.
From Sept. is; to 10th a worry large
acreage will be ready for market. Tho
vines arc crowded with melons which
will shen mature. aad about that date
may b expected tho annual giue- Query:
Everybody interested knowing that
glu, 10 imminent on account Of tho extra
large shipments. why cannot tho shippers
got together and 20 divide tho territory
that they will not conflict with each other
and good prices b obtained svsrywhess9
II such an arrangement 10 possible Il
ought 70 b made.
Growers have had the best success
where they did not plant esd Of thsis
own growing. Sssd planted on The same
ground where raised does not bring good
results.
One slsmsn. favorable TO good prices
10 that the eastern growers Of eantaloapss
will not be a. strong eompositoss ~ some
Of former years. owing to climate eondi-
tons.
More eaniaioapes are being shipped
now than At this date last year. ysstsf-
days rain however causing . heavy
shrinkags In the pseking and shipping Tor
one day.
Tho aggregate Of freight shipments Is
now about is cars per day.
|. D. Hale says that the principal uoa-
bio now Is the tendency Of TOO many
growers TO pick eansaioSpes too green.
A. p. Keuns says that eansaloupo in-
spee;ion is no picnic. requiring . man 10
be on the alert ali the tisne and be will
ing 10 learn from new features which will
present themselves. Il 10 not always
easy 70 toll from The looks Of . melon u
Il is right for shipment and he makes fire.
qusn, tests BY cutting them on the plat
form. To avoid q change Of instructions
a. to picking he has allowed the ship
nent Of . considerable proportion Of ov-
er-grsen melons IN express cars. a. the
same kind Of picking will furnish Just
what :s wanted for The freight shipments.
And then Mr.. kouns thinks that u green
melons are TOO strictly ruled against that
the grower will 60 10 the other extreme
and have his crates too yellow. Long sx-
perienee has shown Mr.. kouns that in
spee,ion requires co,d Judgement and
.ha. grea. variety Of conditions must be
considered.
S. r. Fiori,s. q 81. -ouis fruit mer-
chant, who has made a specially Of the
BurreIl Gems, recently made Rocky Ford
a visit.
Lyon & Corgins this week added to
their Office force here four men who have
been at tho California end Of the bust
ness.