Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1904 — MELON GROWING IN OKLAHOMA. [ARTICLE]

MELON GROWING IN OKLAHOMA.

Better Ones and More of Them Can Be Raised There Than at Rocky Ford. J. B. Thoburn, secretary of Oklahoma’s State Board of Agriculture, says that within the next two years Oklahoma will outrank Rocky Ford as a producer of fine melons. The rich sandy loam lands of the territory produce watermelons and cantaloupes in perfection. F. J. Weymouth of Lincoln County, one of the most extensive growers of melons in the territory, says that the conditions in his county are as favorable to the successful growing of cantaloupes as in any part of the United States. Evan in 1901, when the season was unusually dry, it was proven that this is one of the most profitable crops that can be grown there. In that year the crop paid a net profit of from S4O to $45 per acre. An acre of cantaloupes should produce from 5,000 to 7,000 melons. The past year the farmers received from 1 to 3 cents each net for the melons. Only the best and earliest melons are profitable for shipping. The Oklahoma crop, if on the market by the last of June or the Ist of July, will be considerably ahead of the Arkansas and Missouri crop. Mr. Weymouth has found In shipping that Oklahoma melons bring from 50 cents to $1 a crate more than the market pr|ce in St Louis.