Imperial Valley press., 1924-05-22
CANTALOUPE G INDUSTRY GROWS
FROM 297 CARS IN 1905 TO
12,997 CARS DURING YEAR 1923

Cantaloupe shipments made as far
back us 1905, when there were 291
carloads shipped from Imperial
Valley. met with obvious approval
on eastern markets, according to the
"A page thesis on "Imperial Valley
Cantaloupe Deal as compiled by
V. D. Callahan and c. E. Schultz
of the United States Department OF.
Agriculture, bureau of agricultural
economies, division of fruits and
vegetables, in which AN outline OF
the 1928 and preceding seasons is
given.
In IA concluding table OF compara-
tive shipments since 1905, the vol
um6 of output is nearly doubled III
1906, there being 577 ears. 1t in
crcascs with fair regularity each
year until in 1922, there was total
shipment shown amounting TO r.
243 carlots. The banner year IN
output came last year, although the
acreage was less than that or 1922
The total carlot shipment amounted
20 l2,997 ears, the table shows,
In en introductory review on
the 1928 melon season, the thesis
says: 'sThe 1928 eantaioupc sea
son in the Imperial Valley was one
of the most profitable for several
wears. Although the acreage has
been reduced to 24,863 acres, as
against 1850 the year before
shipments exceeded all previous
records. tctaling 1897 carloads
for the season. (Somcone has fig
urcd that if this year S crop had
been placed in crates end to end
the line would have been 1918 miles
long.
HCool weather after the shipping
season started, helped to bring tho
!! melons on in steady volume. Inc
unusually even daily movement IL
explained by the fact that The
northern half of the valley had
practically harvested its crown sci
| before that of the southern hall
was ready to move heavily and the
second and third settings IN cac'
| district succeeded each tGhcr III
1 regular order.
During the period of the ca
shortage from June % TO 20, mos
| growers lost Il small part OF thci
| rrops bccausc of the inadcquat' u
supplv of equipment, but the vast
| involved was not comparable ',e
that sustained the previous season.
Southern Half Ships Most
In a table showing the acreag
for each district in the valley, th
totals for 1928 for the northern
par. are: 10,125 acres as againS
i4.73S acres in the southern part.
Contained in the compilation
an article by W. II. Hall in whlci
is reviewed the Chicago market TO
1923. Mr.. Hall states " Canta
. loupes rank sixth or seventh II
volume of fruits and vegetables ;.f
irving on the Chicago narkc'' II
! 1928 total arrivals by rail amount
| cd to 1921 ears and boat arfiVai
aggregated 27S ears, all or IN
| boat arrivals coming from Mieh'
| can. California furnishes NOR
than one half of the total arrivals
The problem of shipment IS tax
en- up and in pointing out the re re-
sulting dotrimcnt 70 the welfare y. +. re- . .
/ the grower, it is said; "lt is proh
| able that too much stress eanno
be put ON the necessity OF eAerciS
| ing extreme care and vigilahc
| over picking operations to avoi'
el,inments of immature eahtalOupef
II has been customary to piek firs
! melons only on the full slip an
I this practice should be rigidly ad
| hercG to. The tendency towar
picking on quarter slip or hal
Slip is justly frowned upon by a.
| who have Il real interest in main
tanning the demand for imperia
| Valley cantaloupes.
eRThe work Of the county hort
! cultural agent in 1928 IN enforce
4 ment Of the laws against shipmen