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Iowa Seed Company, Des Moines, Iowa. 19

Musk Melon

(One ounce will plant about 80 hills, two pounds to the acre.)

The soil best adapted to melons is a warm, rich
sandy loam. Plant in hills five to six feed apart
each way, ten to twelve seeds in a hill. When
they begin to vine, thin out, leaving only four of
the most thrifty. As melons are very sensitive to
cold, they should not be planted until the settled
middle of May. Cultivation should commence as
soon as the plants appear above the ground, and
be kept up once a week until the vines interfere
too much. You will be pleased with our seed, the
greater part of which is produced at Altoons, with
special care.

Burrell Gem. A truly delicious melon for
home use or if you desire a variety which will
bring a fancy price on the market. We unhesi
tantingly recommend the Burrell Gem. About the
same size and shape as Rocky Ford, but has rich
golden yellow flesh of the most delicious sort. Seed
cavity is very small. Melons average about six
inches long, four and a half inches in diameter
and weigh 2 1/4 lbs, each. Shipments of these mel
ons to Chicago, St. Louis, New York and elsewhere
brought 50 per cent more than the best Rocky
Fords. Pkt 5c, oz. 15c, 1/4 lb. 40c, lb. $ 1.25.

[Image of basket of melons with halved melons along front, labelled Burrell Gem]

The Ordway Cantelope. This is the favorite type of
small basket melon as grown at Ordway, Colorado. It differs
from the Rocky Ford type in shape and color as it is more
nearly round and inclined to flatten at the ends, but is of about
the same size. The color more nearly resembles the Burrell
Gem, and it has the salmon-colored flesh of that variety. The
quality is extra fine, being sweet and spicy, and deliciously
melting and sugary. A spendid breakfast melon and will stand
shipment for long distances. It is early in maturing, the
originator claiming it to be two weeks earlier than Rocky
Ford, and this is a very desirable feature for the market
grower. For the home garden,it will be found a spendid
melon, as it is vigorous and productive and the quality is
all that might be asked. Our seed is from the originator. Pkt
5c, oz. 15c, 1/4 lb. 40c, lb. $ 1.25.

[Image of cantelope labelled The Ordway Cantelope]

Osage. One of the best melons for family use and also
greatly liked by gardeners. Flesh is salmon color, remarkable
sweet and spicy in flaor, extremely thick and delicous to the
rind. Seed cavity is very small. It is seldom that one of poor
quality is found. The whole crop is very even and extra heavy,
owing to the thickness of the meat. It is of medium size, oval
slighly ribbed. Skin is thin, of dark green color and covered
more or mess with shallow netting. We have taken a great deal
of pains to develop the think, deep, rich colored and fine flavored
flesh of this sort, and a careful comparison proves it to be un
equaled. All lovers of fine melons should try Osage. Pkt
5c, oz. 15c, 1/4 lb. 4c, lb. $ 1.25.

[Image of melon with slice removed labelled Osage Musk Melon]

Improved Green Nutmeg. A greatly improved strain of
the original old Green Nutmeg. Fruit of medium size, very rich, melt
ing and of exquisite flavor; flesh light green. Very productive.
The original variety was a standard sort for many years, and
is one of the best main crops sorts. Pkt 5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 30c, lb. $1.00.

Improved Early Hackensack. Ready for the
market fully ten days ahead of the well known Hacken
sack, which it resembles in size, shape, and quality, weigh
ing from 5 to 12 lbs. each. Very productive, averaging five
to six melons on the vine, all of them deeply netted; flesh
light green. Shape is round, flattened at the ends and
ribs are prominent. Quality fine and a spendid market
melon, as it ships well. Pkt 5c, oz. 15c, 1/4 lb. 40c, lb. $ 1.25.

Netted Gem. An excellent small melon, very popular
with melon growers. Finely netted, and looks nice in the
market. Flesh green and particularly rich and juicy.
This is the parent variety of the Rocky Ford type of mel
ons and is grown in preference to the more recent strains
in many parts of the country. Our stock of this is from
one of the best growers in the country, is fully equal to
the Rocky Ford strains as commonly sold, and we are
sure will please our customers with its fine flavor. Pkt
5c, oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 25c, lb. $75c.

Tip Top. (Orange flesh) This is a fine, nearly round
in shap melon of such attractive appearance as to al
ways sell quickly in the markets. It is sweet, juicy and
delicious. The flesh is firm but not hard, and is edible
almost to the rind. The melon is of medium to large size,
evenly ribbed and moderately netted; a strong grower,
heavy yielder and of handsome appearance, and is one
of the best of the orange fleshed sorts. Its appearance on
the market stall is very attractive, sells on sight; cus
tomers soon learn to pick them outt and will have no other
variety. Particularly adapted to the West. Pkt 5c,
oz. 10c, 1/4 lb. 30c, lb. $ 1.00.

Several additional varieties of musk melons are listed on the next page