Arizona republican., 1910-06-17
BREEDING IF
 CANTALOUPES In Seven Years Right Kind
 Has Been Developed THE BEST SHIPPING MELON Process By Which Frank Clendennen Has Brought Out a Variety Which Is Less Likely to Become Low Grade in Market
THE BEST SHIPPING MELON

l After seven years of almost constant
 attention to the culture and in breed ing of cantaloupeS, Frank Clcndennen of this place has what is considered one of the best shipping melons on the market today. It is not so much in the fact that Mir. Gentlemen has been | regarded for his efforts as it is in the
 manner in which he has brought about the desired results.
 Seven years ago MT Clendeanen re sided in the Rocky Ford district where he was one of the larger growers At
 that point as well as at this one there
 was one feature which was uppermost in the minds of the growers and one
 obstacle which they had to constantly
 overcome. that was in the getting of their melons to the station and in the
 refrigerator cars before they were
 oVsrripe. In the event that they start
 ed Overripe towards Chicago there was always the risk Of oncountering q slow
 market and consequent low price It
 was to overcome this very objection
 that prompted Mir Clendcnnen to com
 mence the breeding of q melon with
 out ribs, or in other words solid net
 ting the same as an orange. He learn
 ed that the first signs of decay com
 menced at the center of the melon.
 The first indication of decay being
 that the seeds would shake loose from
 their fastenings at the center and the
 next soft places would be noticed at
 the ribs or where the melons were not netted. By an inspection of an ordi-
 nary cantaloupe it will be noticed that
 .,IU
 that portion immediately over the ribs
 being smooth.
 When Mir. Gentlemen came to this
 place he soon perceived that the same condition existed at this place with regard to shipping that prevailed in Colorado. Any grower of cantaloupes understands that in the industry at this place there is the one drav,back;
 the melons have to be at the station and in the refrigerator car at a cer- tain period of their maturity or they are low grade. In order to stand up for seven days enroute, the time talk en by fast freight between Mesa and Chicago. it is necessary to pick the melons when they are just a triflc green. This it appears is the only ob- jection that has ever been raised against the cantaloupe even though it has been in the strongest competition among melons from practically every district in the United States.
 The melons used in bringing a grade of melons from the barbaric stages te civilization as MT Gentlemen ex- presses it is interesting The start was made from a Pollock which is a solid net melon and Waters which is a ribbed melon. The two varieties wera planted in rows side by side and the pollen from one vine mixed with that of another in an adjoining row. The first year there were signs of less ribs and more netting. The flesh began to thicken. Five or six melons were pick ed the first year out of the. - entire tract and saved for seed. The grade was perceptibly improved by careful selection at the end of each season l there being two requisites in the l mind-of the grower before he made i his final decision on just which mel ons to lay aside. The first test being | the indications of thick meat and the | second being the lack of ribs. Seven | years of this constant practice has | a variety which in the mind | of MT. Clendennen is practically able | to meet the test. He is of the opinion that his melon will stand up or in other words will not show signs of between this point and Chi cago even though they are sent by | regular express without icing of any kinds He states thta he has picked ! melons at this place which were per rectly yellow and has shipped them to Colorado and that upon reaching their destination were found to be perfectly solid and without the least indication )f softening.