Arizona republican., 1907-01-24
MESA
cANTELoUPE GROWERS
Over 300 Acres to be Planted This
Year. Shipping Season to be
Heightened.


! As the desert grass begins to come
! forth and the sheep men begin to fig
ure on shearing time. it also indicates
that the cantaloupe planting season is
not a great way in the distance A
few years ago the cantaloupe crop had
no Significance for the residents on
the south side of the Salt river other
than it meant a few luscious melons
! for family use to cut on Sunday af-
I ternoons when company came. How
ever the growing of that product
which was at one time less than 4 side
( issue, has passed the experimental
stage. and has become one of the
principal industries under the far
famed Mesa which may result in the
world knowing us as Rocky Ford.
Colorado is known by her cantaloupes.
The Cantaloupe Growers associa-
ton, which has been organized with
view to promoting the interests of
the growers along shipping and mar
I keting lines has several things in con-
temptation for the coming season.
which are bound to be of a benefit to
the ranchers. one of the most import
ant of these is that the season will be
extended at least four weeks. This
VIII be done by advising in regard to
the planting time. 1t has been found
by past experience that when the
planting was done at about the same
time that the marketing time was
oNercrowded making help insufficient
TO go around and accommodations
meager as to shipping facilities. 1t
is planned this year 20 plant so that
the first shipments will begin about
the 18th of June and last until the
first of September. 1t is conservative
~ estimated that there will be at least
500 acres planted this season which
makes it absolutely necessary that the
shipping time be strung out in order to
accommodate the greatest number Of
growers.
The association is also figuring with
the railroad companies in order to
get their shipping platforms made
longer. so that more cars can be load
ed at the same time Last season as |
many as twelve cars per day left this |
place and with the facilities at hand
for loading it soon became apparent f.
that more loading room was needed. I
The Santa re and s. 2. roads received /
about 80 per cent each Of the ship |
ments last year. The same plan will
be followed this season As vet il is
impossible To forecast on the selling
price. W. w. Wood. who last wear
handled the Mesa output at Chicago
on commission. will probably do so
again this year.
II is hard to estimate the exact
profits per acre that result from can
taloupe growing on the Mesa. The
profits of course differ according to
selling prices and amount produced
However it is conservativelv estiuat-
cd by the old growers that 5000 per
acre net has been realized and that
with little more experience that this
can be considerably increased. DR..
a. J. Chandler who is one of the nio-
ncers in the business, realized $4,000
gross from eight acres. II can be
seen that the small rancher who can
furnish good portion Of his own
help. can realize even greater returns
Where everything has to be paid for
such as cultivating. hauling to market
boxing and shipping. it is estimated
that an expense Of 800 per acre is in
Cured.
Little can be said in regard to the
Mesa cantalouDe further than that
demonstrated. It is a well known fact
mat this soil which is especially
adapted to the raising Of a perfect
-rult much better in flavor than the
.ar famed Rocky Fords and on ac-
count Of the unlimited amount of
are several weeks earlier in
reaching the Chicago market than the
Colorado product. With the past ex-
oerience as ready references and the
unlimited water supply close at hand
cannot be very far in the future
Nhen the Mesa cantaloupe's fame will /
'ermeate the eastern markets and this
ldftlcuIar section will be known by
hat product.