Arizona republican., 1921-06-10
I | SHIP 2,000. CARS OF MELONS .OUR|NG SEASON
Shipping Season To Begin
 June 25, With Prospects
 For Good Crop and Mar
 ket-Acreage 3,T00

At least 2000 cars of cantaloupes will be moved out of the valley in 30 | days following the opening of the l shipping season between June 25 and | July 1, cantaloupe men estimated yes terday in making public figures on this years melon acreage. With the start of the season but three weeks away, growers and shippers are mak- ing preparations 10 handle the crop
 More than 3700 acres are planted to cantaloupes in the valley this year. This is normal acreage for the years before cotton usurped the place of other crops, but a big increase is shown over last year, when 2500 acres were planted in melons. The acreage is divided into the following districts according to shipping points:
 Phoenix, 500; fair grounds, 500; Alhambra, 750; Glendale. 500; Mesa and Gilbert. HOO; total. 3750.
 Nearly all the melons grown here this season will be consigned to east ern markets. 75 per cent of the crop going east cf the Mississippi river. mostly to the far eastern cities. in- cluding New York Philadelphia Pittsburg, etc.
 Eastern distributors. it was pointed out yesterday. control practically all the planted acreage by contract and by financing the growing. These dis tributors are Steinhardt & Kelly of New York: the American Fruit Growers, Inc. of Pittsburg: the s. A. Garrsrd company of Cincinnati. and C. H. Weaver and company of Chi cago. In addition. the Fruit Distrip- utors Service company of Chicago has a smaller acreage at Glendale marketing the shipments of the 1 Glendale Melon Growers association.
 The present condition of tho crop in the Phoenix and Glendale districts is especially good. with prospects for D heavy yield and good quality. In Mesa the melons are somewhat later. which may limit production. Many of the melons now are fully nctted. and some will be ripe for home cor sumption in 10 days. though no car lots will be shipped out before June 25
 The Imperial valley is now shipping 250 to 300 cars of cantaloupes daily. These shipments. however. will de- crease to about 100 daily by July fl 1 conditions are normal. thus leaving the field open for the Salt River weeks of July shipments from this valley will run from 15 to 175 cars a day.
 Market conditions in the east arc described by cantaioupe men as most favorable. Imperial valley melons are selling at s5 to s7 standard crate. If prices will hold at s4 to s; during July growers and land owners will make a good profit
 Il Preparations for the big harvcs lnow are well under way. Box shoolSs
 and nails are being. unloaded dail. and several hundred men are ar work
 The boxes or crates are being mad'
 in the valley, in most cases on thu
 tracts where they will be used
 Supt H. c. Storey of the Santa Fe
 Prescott & Phoenix branch of tn
 Santa Fe. and Mir. Prather of Lo
 Angeles. western manager of tn Santa Fe Refrigerating Dispatcl company were here yesterday pre-
 pairing to give special service durinl the shipping season They will hay
 from three to five switching engine , at work. and during the busy part O I the season three or four special can , taloupe trains will leave Phoeni, . daily. The. season will start with on
 special train leaving Glendale eacl midnight. the train being made u : there with cars from the v---ls dis , tricts.
 c Dean Stanley. western manager fo e Steinhardt & Kelly of New York. I : here this week looking over the acre . age, establishing a branch office c
 his company. and getting ready [ y handle shipments This is the onl fl distributing company which will han e dle distribution and sales direct fror : Phoenix during the season. and Stan e ley. who is going to the Imperial val : ley for a few days. will return abot $ June 20 in preparation for this worl
 His company will market 400 cars ( .I .n-