Watermelons For the United States as a whole, the watermelon season MONTHLY SHIPMENTS OF WATERMELONS axtends from May to October, a period of six months, but in BY STATE GROUPINGS ‘he majority of individual states the season generally lasts but ‘salam Thancans three or four months. California and Texas are exceptions to ‘he rule, as their season is somewhat longer. Beginning in May in Florida, California and Texas, the watermelon season extends gradually to the northern states, where it begins in August. The length of the season in each state and the gradual northward movement of the season is ndicated by the table, which shows the average monthly ship- nents of watermelons by states during the three years. © cars © S OND rg Si MONTHLY SHIPMENTS OF WATERMELONS IN CARLOADS Origin Year State Total Ha, pues 7,310 Calif. .. 5,035 Pex. ... 5,328 3a. .... 16,827 Ala, .... 2,013 Miss, .., 208 5. C.... 4,867 Vy Cue. 985 Ark, ... 411 Mo. .... 2523 va. .... 283 vd. .... 453 Del, .... 263 Ind. ... 471 1 | LI—— 231 lowa ... 158 Kans, .. 113 Other ., 873 OJ. S.... 48.352 Average 3 years 1924, 1925 and 1926 an, Feb, Mar, Apr. May June July Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. 190 4,498 2,611 10 . . 152 1,921 2,001 714 214 22 0 1,072 3,010 1,117 100 . 2,122 11,010 3,556 137 '71 1,328 418 93 21 118 50 17 1 3,926 905 15 * 202 750 33 138 270 3 119 1,905 495 224 57 i 250 203 .e on 130 133 ws - 206 261 4 on . 98 128 3 oe “oe 72 82 4 . .e x 59 51 1 “r .. 7 104 104 430 214 12 oe .e “71 9,931 24,570 11,164 2,236 7 9 IN Average annual shipments of watermelons for the entire United States amounted to 48,352 carloads. Georgia was the eading shipper. That state alone accounted for 16,827 cars, or nearly 35 per cent of the total shipments. Florida was second, with 7,310 cars; Texas, third, with 5,328 cars; Cali- fornia, fourth, with 5,035 cars; South Carolina, fifth, with 1,867 cars; Missouri, sixth, with 2,623 cars, and Alabama, seventh, with 2,013 cars. These seven states combined fur- nished nearly 91 per cent of the total shipments, N o other single state shipped so much as 1,000 cars. The watermelon rop is essentially a southern crop. Watermelon shipments ead all other fresh fruits and vegetables in Georgia and South Carolina, are second in Texas, Alabama and Missouri, and third in importance in Florida. Beginning with light shipments in May, the movement in- creases rapidly to a peak in July, then declines with equal rapidity during the remainder of the season. The shipments in July averaged 24,570 cars, or nearly 51 per cent of the average annual movement during the three years. About 20 ber cent moved in June and about 23 per cent in August. All ‘he watermelon states participated in the movement in, August. All but Florida participated in September, and all except Maryland, Delaware, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa in July. The seak movement from Florida was in J une, that for California, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina was mn July, while for the remaining states the peaks were about :qually divided between August and September, The longer seasons in California and Texas are indicated oy the fact that shipments are made for nearly seven months. This is due, in part, to the diversity of climatie conditions in the two extremities of each state, In California, for example, -here are two definite watermelon growing areas, the Imperial Valley and the Central Region. Shipments from the former cease in July but those from the latter continue during August and September. Colorado, which is a large shipper of cantaloupes, does not appear in the list of important watermelon shipping states, while Florida, which is an important watermelon shipping state, does not appear in the list of important cantaloupe shipping states. " 0 tr — — 3) A_ up ~ fr =~ Ra. te etme: " ALABAMA o- a ey SOUTH AND NO® ap J “e steone | ARKANSAS AND Tasie- — by ep peep imi VIRGINIA _ arr = AND © 1. Sr INDIANA, IL! iN AND KANS: OTHE + — 12 y 3 _~ - ™ aE TT 0 ™ 2 1 —" r—