Imperial Valley press., 1934-06-14
IPNENT Of
MELONS SETS
NEW RECORD

Cantaloupe shipments during the
month OF May totaled 1862 carloads,
as compared with 1877 cars shipped
during May, 1888. Quality of melons
shipped this season, especially those
of the mildeW resistant type, has
been much superior to that of for
mer years. This has been due to the
new standardization law requiring
nine per cent soluble solids instead
OF eight per cent as required last
year, as well as the improved var
ieties of melons," states the month
ly report Of B. A. Harrigan, county
agricultural commissioner.
White melon shipments, with 712
carloads, are also far in advance OF
last years shipments with good
quality and demand.
Mildew, especially in fields of the
resistant varieties, has short
ened the yield considerably. Fields
affected with mildew this year
seemed to suffer more severely than
last year, in many cases only three
to four pickings being harvested.
Steps have been taken by the grow
ers and shippers in an effort to en-
force the planting of only mildew
resistant seed next year, there being
a sufficient amount of this seed
available to supply all who may con-
template planting cantaloupes.
"GrasshopperS, particularly in the
north end of the valley, continued
to do considerable damage to alfalfa
fields. The federal government made
an appropriation of $2,375 900 to
fight grasshoppers in the middle
west. Application was Immediately
made for supply of bran and poi
son to combat our local infestation.
The federal government has ship
ped $50 tons of bran and sufficient
poison to mix with this BRAN We
are now treating all areas infested
with grasShopperS free of charge to
the rancherS. Very satisfactory re-
suits have been realized from our
program of grasshopper eradication"
the report says, and adds 1903 car
loads of watermelons were shipped
with good quality and demand. The
market, although not as high as
might be expected, remained steady
considering the great number of
cars SO early in the season."
The following goods were inspect
ed and passed into Imperial county
during the month of May: 252 Or
namentals, 100 cactus plants, 6
bulbs, 9 truckloads lemons, Sc truck
loads oranges, "a truckloads mixed
fruit and vegetables, 5 cars bana-
mas.
Quarantine reflections included:
266 boxes oranges infested with
scale, 16 boxes lemons infested with
scale.
Outgoing shipments included: 424
carloads mixed melons, 1877 carloads
honey balls, Sis carloads of honey
deWs, 1862 carloads of canta-
loupeS, 903 carloads watermelons,
222 carloads carrots, SO carloads
grapefruit, 25 carloads tomatoes.
Standardization reflections consist
ed of: 20,216 crates cantaloupes re-
jected for not meeting the require
ments of the California fruit, nut
and vegetable standardization law;
1907 crates tomatoes rejected for
not meeting the laws requirements,
as were 1872 tons of watermelons.
Apiary inspection included: IL
apiaries inspected; 491 colonies in
spected; 5 colonies infested with
American Foul Brood destroyed by
burning.
Weights and measures work in
cluded: counter scale and 81 spring
scales tested and sealed without
correction; l spring scale condemn
ed; 48 computing scales tested and
sealed without correction, 3 comput-
ing scales tested and sealed after
correction; 9 computing scales out
of order; l computing scale con-
demned; % platform scales tested
and sealed without corerction; l
platform scale tested and sealed af-
ter correction; l platform scale con-
demned; % weights tested and seal
ed without correction; weight con-
demned, 81 packages weighed and
found to be correct; % packages
weighed and found to be short
weight; 1913 gasoline pumps tested
and sealed without correction, 80
gasoline pumps tested and sealed af-
ter correction; l wagon scale tested
and sealed.