The Ordway new era. (Ordway, Colo.) 1902-1927, 1913-02-14
ordvay Crowley County, Friday February

nave not Deen aDl6 TO secure buare
crop contracts on as favorable terms
as formerly and many of them have
moved away.
Quite an army of men and women
are required at harvest time to han
die this crop quickly, SO as to avoid
losses in the fields. One man is
needed for each acre, on the average.
Careful attention is required in
every stage Of handling, from field to
market to insure the most satisfactory
results. Cooperation is the watch
word all along the line, to the end
that the highest values may be Sc
cured for the grower. The grower
must furnish good article, we'll
graded and packed. The inspector at
the loading platform must see that
the grower does this, and then have
the cars properly loaded and braced.
The A. r. T. company must see that
all cars have perfect refrigeration to
destination. The railroads must fur
nish rapid transportation and quick
delivery on all such perishable prod
ucts. The selling agent must make
judicious distribution of all cars into
the various markets, avoiding those
that may be over supplied, and also
furnish expert salesmanship at all
destinations. A fAilure in any part
of the above program may result in
disaster. A majority of the growers
are now coming to recognize the i'm
portance of good quality. yield, grade
and pack, il this industry is to be
placed on permanently profitable
basis. Quality means attractive ap-
pearance, inside and out, also good
eating and keeping quality. To se
cure these seed selection is the staIt-
ing point. Seed should be saved from
such melons as you wish to reproduce.
The kind which are most sought after
in the marksts are standard size mel
ons of gooi lape. we'll netted, with
out cracks, splits or soft ends, having
sweet flavor and small seed cavity.
If this method OF selection is caro-
fully followed each season, this melon
can be much improved in appearance,
flavor and keeping quality. Selection
of soil, thorough preparation of same
for planting, careful application of
the right amount of water at the prop
er time. proper cultivation, and pick
ing the melons at the right stsgs Of
maturity, all help to make quality.
Careful attention to these things also
usually results in q proportionately y
larger yield. This is important. The
man who recognizes the Importance Of
scientific methods in cantaloupe cul-
ture and is diligent in their appIica.
tion is usually the one who finds it
most profitable. other conditions being
equal.
The most successful growers are
most always those who plant ten acres
or less. Ten acres which yield 600
crates per acre are better paying
proposition than twenty acres which
yield only $50 or 400 crates per acre
or forty improperly cared for which
only yield 200 or $50 crates per acre.
1t is not wise to plant more than can
be cared for with thoroughness, system
and economy. The man with the
small yield is usually the one who
declares that cantaloupe raising does
not pay"
The importance of good grade and
pack cannot be too strongly empha-
sized. Every cantaloupe should be
culIed out that the grower himself
would be unwilling to buy. 1t is
false economy to pack up and pay
freight on rotten, soft end, split,
cracked, slick or green melons. and
have the buyer at the other end throw
them out and discount the car 25 per
cent or more on account of the shrink
age and extra expense of Iepacking.
Twelve crates of good sound melons of
uniform size, tightly packed, will sell
for more than fifteen crates of good
and bad mixed, or of irregular sizes
and loose pack. The grower who puts
few culis in his crates, because he
thinks they are too good to throw
away cheats himseIf and also his
neighbors. A few such crates in a car
/ may injure the sale of the entire car.
When several cars of melons of differ
ent grade and pack are offered for sale
the most desirable stock is taken by
the best tSade and the others are hard
er to sell at lower price.
The growers who truly value their
own and their neighbors' welfare, the
permanence Of this cantaIoupe indus
try and the reputation of the Burrell
Gem cantaloupe will continue to strive
for the best until it is secured.
W. b. RULE.
Thinking that the fire Wednesday
morning was in the livery barn oper-