The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-04

when small 10 fuzzy and the color OF
slate. This rapidly changes as the
development progresses and the melon
o on the RIBS ISM /. the s nissing touch Of
mems on boxes Of sand perfectly
nss.ed mel, melon san /. be
OF the first grade the exterior is 50
even and perfect that OF thirty melons
laid on table for Grating one could
not be told from another In color. shad-
ing, weight or appearance.
When the melons begin to ripen.
which is ninety days from the time
of planting the seed. the ripe ones are
GATH twice day in sacks. sorted
ard separated into the proper grades
The fungus and invisible life on the
outside of melons Is the cause OF
r.. and decay. Thi. n removed from
melons to pc Grated by scrabbing
lengthv.se with a brush ard pure
water to which is added two ounces
OF formaidehyde to Eve gallons OF
water. Wher dry each melon is
wrapped In wax paper and each
crates 1--WE inches high. fifteen and
one-half inches wide. twenty-seven
inches long for shipment, storing In
cool place. or for cold storage ac-
cording to trade requirements.
In sorting the melons for Grating
I save enough Of the perfect speci-
mems for seed. It requires the same
cara to maintain quality In a melon
that II ioes to produce It. The ten
dency OF 4 hybrid cantaloupe to diff
ferentiate into variety OF types and
particularly its receptive tendency to
cross fertilization from adjoining
fields makes this q difficult task.
One wrong seed does q lot OF mis-
chief tho succeeding year, and ex-
ercisc the best judgment that pos
sess In selecting for seed. When
have saved enough for next years
planting / macerate II in tub with
the hand and then let the mass re-
main In tho tub until 1t ferments
Then I pour on q quantity OF water
stir thoroughly and pour on the
foating seeds and pulp and continue
the operation until all tho pulp, nbeI
and light seeds are washed away
All the good. plump. we'll filled seeds
being heavier when green than water
fall to the bottom. Lastly wash
with Ave gallons OF water contain
| inr two ounces OF formAldehyde
strain through a seine and place the
seeds on q table covered with tai
paper indoors where they will dry
slowly. Stir frequently and keep the
mice from them. A single mouse
will carry away to a hiding place
1000 seeds In single night. Wher
dry, place In q sack and suspend II
dry place for q month. Then sea
tight I'm tin can. Cantaloupe seed
thus treated will retain all their
power OF termination four to nv
years. During the winter sort thu
seed BY hand. throwing out all ths
sharp pointed. crooked. black. dis
coiored and defective seeds and al
those not plump and well rounded
Hybridixing has = tendency to reduce
4 the size Of seed and to lesson theil
/ terminating power. / have by selec
/ ton bred in the Virginia Beauty 1
4 seed almost ~ large ~ its progenitor
/ tho musk melon and hardness II
1 the plant that makes cantaaoup'
/ growing much easier and more Ger
Il tain. During 1911 no rain fell upol
4 the vines' for forty-seven days. still
II the plants survived and produced !
crop. Four Of tbs Virginia Beautie
n will produce one ounce OF reed
n enough to plant about seventy hills
|IIt takes the ,1eed OF l10 melons Q
! this type to plant an acre.
When the ca0tAlounee m, =!
Il 5nkA6 toge&Ast ma nuzns4 ~ q