Arizona republican., 1919-08-25
.GONP|LE REPORT. IN JAN NTAL OUPE
 CROP IN VALLEY
Season Results Summed Up In First Report Yield
 Was a Disappointment To Many Demand Good

The final official report on the 1919 cantaIoupe crop in Arizona has just been compiled by Ed NJ Seifert, IT, who was in Phoenlx throughout the season, and a copy Of it has beer mailed The Republican.
 The yield from the state. 1880 cars. vas disappointment to the majority Of those interested in the crops" states Mir. Seiferts report. The preseason estimate was placed at 2,2oo cars, but before picking was begiun it was evil dent that more than 2.5oo cars would be produced. Much more than the estimate was produced, but not har- vested"
 In referring 10 the quality of canta- loupes raised and the market which they received at the outset of the sea son, the report says;
 ''The first shipments sold in terminal markets at exceptionally high prices. IL was generally conceded that the quality and net for the pickings dur- ing the first week to ten days wera superior to those of previous seasons. and the stock shipped during that per- iod all sold at remarkably high prices; but the quality soon after deteriorated and the dissatisfaction which followed was quickly reflected in the prices in consuming centers.T
 Airzona's peak day was on July s, with 193 cars of cantaloupes. The average yield per acre for the Salt River valley was equal to approxi- mately 140 standard crates. This in cludeG shippers whose acreage pro- duced but 5, and those producing over 200 crates. Some growers claimed yields of over 450 standards to the acre, but they did not have the facili- lies for handling them.
 Mir. Seiferts report continues:
 The loss. estimated at TOO to 1000 cars, is attributed to the abnormal iipening of the crop, heavy rains and sphis Last year the picking season was preceded by comparatively cool weather and some rain, checking the growth of the fruit and holding back Shipments.
 This season the weather was hot and dry until after the second week of picking. and to this unfavorable weather was added a peculiar con
 
 to produce heavy second settings, bu! extremely light crown and third set tings. The entire second setting rip ened within very few days and brought on more melons than it was humanly possible to pick and pack It was conservatively estimated that Shipments on the peak day would have exceeded 250 cars had it been possible 10 pick pack and ship.
 From half of one 40 acre patch S1( standards were picked in one day, but the cantaloupes that should have beer picked from the other 20 acres were practically worthless the next day. IT field after field nearly every hil showed from three to eleven overripe standard size melons which, of course were worthless.
 The heavy rain on July II ruined the fruit that was ready for picking and seriously deteriorated the quality of those remaining Then before the patches had chance to recover tht storm on the 14th finished them Aphis damage probably resulted in from 10 to 20 percent loss, and wash outs and a demolished bridge added tt the total. No root-rot was reported.
 Those who planted the 1925" seeC obtained the best results in quality ane net, but the ripening season is toe short and fast to produce melons nettet to compare with these from either ths Imperial or Turlock sections. During the first few days of picking many patches ran heavy to ponys but after that produced principally standard: and flats, with some unusually large stock. As the season advanced ths .1lra fr1 on the vines, ripened so fast it wal necessary to pick them greener anc greener. This, and the natural tend ency to get melons to market as earl, as possible, caused growers to picl too green and many loads were con demned. Even with this precautioI markets daily reported arrivals il 0Yerripe and soft condition. Grower, and shippers>exerted every effort to ge their cantaloupes unde rice as sooI after they are picked as they could, b cause every hour of delay tends t lessen the carrying quality of the fruit but at times loading sheds were fillee to capacity and long strings of wagon were held up waiting for spots
 It looked at one time as thougl there would be a serious shortage 0 crate material, caused principally b. unusually fast ripening: but by us ing every means in their power t, bring in more shook and shifting sup plies by borrowing from one another the distributors avoided what woul, have been disaster to many grower and a great loss to themselves. On distributor paid over s1,400 in expres charges on three cars of shook A a result of the scramble to get ma teriaI from every possible source o supply much more than was needei rolled in. making it necessary for som of the distributors to store large quan titles to be used next season.
 As distributors control almost al