The Dolores star., 1924-06-20
Bulletin Issued
on Watermelons
Handling of Product Is Pre-
carious on Account of
Many Factors.

prepared BY the 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
big one. but the author of this bull
letin 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 more important
factor. Cool, rainy weather will cause
breaks of the market, while clear, hot
weather will 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
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or hay cut from melon fields have
been fed during the previous season.
They respond to the use of CONNER
clal 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.
Watermelons should not be gathered
until reasonably ripe, but not over
ripe. They should be clipped from
the vines by means of sharp knife,
leaving the stems as long as possible,
and hauled to the shipping point with
out injury to the skin or bruislng.
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
be handled with extreme care to avoid
injury. Only melons with fresh
green stems should be loaded. and the
stems should be reclipped and treat
ed to prevent the development of
stem-rot in transit. Melons should be
handled carefully throughout, snugly
packed in. the cars, and should reach
the market without unnecessary de-
lay.
The profits accruing from watermel-
ons growing are not large; therefore
all items of expense in their prOduc-
ton should be kept as low rs possible
consistent with good cultural and
handling methods. Sudden expansion
of the acreage planted is undesirable
and usually results in extremely low
prices.
A copy Of this bulletin, Farmers
Bulletin No. 1894, Watermelons, may
be secured, as long as the supply lasts
from the United States Department OF
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