Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-06-05
Shining WatermelOnS

Inc watermelon shipping season Is
ct hand. One Of our county agents
who has had wide experience in han
ding and shipping melons has pre-
pared the following very timely and
instructive article on this subject.
Agent J. William Firor to the at
tention of all who may be interested
in growing or marketing Georgia
melons this year.
The Georgia watermelon, though
rather low-priced product per pound
at shipping point, adds more than
a million dollars to the states
wealth each year. It is a highly
perishable product. and it goes to
markets many miles from the fields
in which it grows. The costs that
begin at the time the watermelons
leave the shippers hands and con-
tinue until they reach the con-
sumer's table. pile up, regardless of
whether the watermelonS are of fine
quality and in good condition when
they arrive at destination, or are
worthless for consumption. There
fore, it behooveS the watermelon
grower and shipper to take every
practicable step to help the melons
arrive before the consumer in good
condition. 1t is a fallacy of the first
moment TO assume that if a car of
watermelons looks all right at load
ing station, the duty of the pro-
ducer and shipper is completed.
Every car of watermelonS that goes
bad in transit is just so much dead
weight on the industry, and, ulti-
mately, the shipper pays, whether he
realizes it or not.
There are a few simple things
which, once followed by watermelon
leaders, will do more to increase the
shipping point value than anything
else that can be accomplished with
the same amount of effort and eX-
pense. The most important of these
are:
1, Gather only ripe melons.
2. In gathering melons, be sure to
have them come from green and
growing vines.
8. Have each car of standard
weight, that is a car of 24s, 26s or
2Ss. AS the melons are passed from
the wagons to the car loader, weigh
each melon to make certain of the
grade; also at this time, eliminate
all bruised. diversified, diseased and
ill-shaped melons.
4. Handle carefully and quickly
from the field to the car.
5. Have the car ready to receive
the melons as fast as they are
brought to the loading point
6. Treat the melons as they are
packed in the car by first making
a fresh cut of the stem and then
apply blue stone paste.
Z. Load so the melons will not
shift in transit
Ripe Melons: Thousands of dol.
lars have been lost to the Georgia
watermelon growers through impa-
tience on the part of the growers to
load the melons before they are ripe.
A purchaser of car of Georgia
watermelons in a city a thousand
miles from the fields very often de-
termines his attitude toward all
Georgia watermelons by the number
of green melons he gets in the first
car he buys during the season. A
watermelon that is green when
loaded into a car will likewise be
green when cut by the potential con-
sumner.
Condition of Vines: When the
watermelon vines die before the
melons have reached maturity, these
melons are not fit for human con.
sumption.
Weighing and Grading: Watermel.
ons are bought and sold on a basis
of count and grade. A shipper can
not quote a car Of melons unless
he knows the count and grade. A
buyer knows not how to buy unless
the one who is offering the car is
able to tell him in a few words what
is in the car of watermelons. Cor
rect and accurate grading facilitates
long-distance and Geographic selling,
thereby increasing the distribution
and demand.
First, decide what weight is to be
loaded. For instance, if it is de-
cided that the melons will aVera ge
rs pounds, set the scales at "a
pounds, and as they are passed from
the wagon to the loader, be certain
that any melon weighing less than
"a pounds is laid aside for a lower
grade, and that those weighing over
% pounds are put into a higher
grade. Above all things, do not stick
into the car spongy, diseased, i'll
shaped melons or those that are
otherwise inferior.
Handling: 1t is obvious that mel
Ol4S 1lCllO4CIR 81 IO05llly co ~ VI ca n
the meat within will deteriorate rap
idly; also, bruising permits diseases
to enter from the outside.
Preparing Cars: 1t is suggested
that a week before the time for
loading, the grower go and talk with
the local railroad agent. Find out
at this time the car situation. If
the agent advises that cars are
scarce, make a written request for
a 26-foot ventilated car to be placed
for loading on day that the pro.
Queer expects the melons to be ready.
The railroad should be advised if
there is any change in the time for
loading. Place on the floor of the
car clean, dry straw. pine needles
or other similar material. Line the
car with watermelon paper to a
height little beyond the point that
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