The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-06-20
Bulletin Issued
on WatermelOnS
Handling of Product Is Pre-
carious on Account of
Many Factors.

prepared by tn United States Department
OF Agriculture.)
"watermelons." That is the name
of new bulletin just issued by the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture The subject of watermelons is
a big one, but the author of this bull
ietln has covered the ground thorough
ly. The handling of watermelons is
extremely precarious, he says, on ac-
count of the many factors that govern
their sale on the market. Overpro-
duction is one of the chief causes of
loss, but weather conditions at the
market are perhaps a mere Important
factor. Cool rainy weather. will cause
breaks of the market, while clear, hot
weather viii invariably stimulate the
demand. Considerable losses are also
caused by diseases which have their
origin on the farm. but develop during
transit.
increase Yield and Quality.
Under existing conditions any de-
cided increase In the acreage planted
to watermelons for shipment, for the
present at least, would be unwise, but
there is great opportunity for improv-
ing cultural methods and for increas-
Ing both the yield and the quality Of
the melons. Watermelon as a rule
should not be grown on the same land
oftener than once in ten years, in
order to avoid losses from disease.
Plant on new land wherever possible
and avoid the use of barn or feed
lot manure where either refuse melons
or hay cut from melon fields have
been fed during the previous season.
They respond to the use of CONNER
cial fertilizer the amount being gov
erned by the character of the soil and |
the cost Of the fertilizer. Melons
grown for the market should be |
thinned to approximately two on each |
vine or hill, in order to get marketable
size. the pruning being done when
the vines are dry. The vines them
selves should be cut back or pruned.
Wateruelons should not be gathered
until reasonably ripe, but not over
ripe. They should be clipped from
the vines by means of a sharp knife,
leaving the stems as long as possible,
anu liduttQ ~ tnC oiilPitihS punt WIN
out injury to the skin or bruising.
Melons should always be hauled and
loaded into the cars the same day
that they are clipped from the vines.
ship in Clean Cars.
Watermelons should be shipped only
In clean cars provided with at least
three inches of dry bedding, and in
case of box cars or ventilated cars a
lining of paper around the walls is
desirable, although not absolutely es
sential. In sections where stem-end
rot is prevalent, watermelons should
De handled with extreme care to avoid
injury. Only melons with fresh
green stems should be loaded, and the
stems should be reclipped and treat
ID to prevent the development of
item-rot in transit. Melons should be
handled carefully throughout snugly
hacked in the cars. and should reach
he market without unnecessary de-
ay.
The profits accruing from watermel- !
ms growing are not large; therefore [
II items of expense in their produc- c
ion should be kept as low as possible '
onsistent with good cultural and I
andling methods. Sudden expansion S
+ the acreage planted is undesirable, i
nd usually results in extremely low h
rices. I
A copy of this bulletin, Farmers d
ulletin No. 1894, Watermelons. may t
e secured, as long as the supply lasts, /.
'om the United States Department of I
griculture, Washington, ID. C. II