A trial was conducted during the spring season of 1989 using four varieties. They were Dixie Jumbo, Hymark,
 Magnum 45 and Planters Jumbo. Seeds were sown in the greenhouse on February 8 and transplanted in the field
 on February 13. The plants were spaced 1.52 m between rows and 1.5 m between plants in a row. Each variety
 was planted in three rows 7.6 m long.
 The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block with four replications. All plots were drip-
 Irrigated to maintain adequate soil moisture. Fruits were harvested eight times between April 24 and May 12,1989.
 Fruits were graded into marketable and non-marketable categories, weighed, and the soluble solids were
 determined using a hand refractometer.
 As shown in Table 13, marketable yield ranged from 5.20 t ha' for Magnum 456 to 7.65 t ha-' for Planters Jumbo.
 These yields are similar to those obtained in the 1979 trial. Marketable yields of Dixie Jumbo, Hymark and Planters
 Jumbo were not significantly different. Magnum 45 produced the lowest yield. Planters Jumbo produced the largest
 fruit (1.7 kg), followed by Dixie Jumbo (1.4 kg). Magnum 45 produced the smallest fruit (1.1 kg), but contained the
 highest soluble solids.
 The result of this trial demonstrated that yields of the cantaloupe varieties tested are generally low. There is a
 need to screen more varieties for the Virgin Islands.

 Table 13. Total marketable yield and fruit quality of cantaloupe
 varieties grown during spring, 1989, at UVI-AES.

 Marketable yield' Fruit size Solublesoids
 Variety (t ha') (kg) (%)

 Planters Jumbo 7.65 a 1.69 6.5
 Dixie Jumbo 6.85 a 1.38 7.5
 Hymark 6.13 ab 1.22 8.5
 Magnum 45 5.20 b 1.05 11.3

 'Meanswithin column followed by the same letter are not significantly
 different by Duncan's Multiple Range Test, (P=0.05).


WATERMELON VARIETY TRIAL

 The previous watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) variety trial was conducted in 1978-79. Of the 12 varieties
evaluated In that trial, Golden Dragon from AVRDC, Taiwan, was the best-yielding variety. The marketable yield
in this trial ranged from 0 to 5.03t ha1. Some varieties produced no fruit because of poor germination and low fruit
set. Other problems observed were immature fruits and blossom end rot.
 The 1987-88 trial was conducted to evaluate five varieties during the winter-spring season. The varieties were
Crimson Sweet, Dixie Lee, Royal Sweet, Royal Charleston and Sugar Doll.
 The trial was planted in the field on December 16,1987. Seeds were sown at spacings of 1.5 m between rows
and within rows. Each variety was planted in three rows that were 7.6 m long. The experiment was arranged in a
randomized complete block design with three replications.
 The plots were drip-irrigated to provide adequate soil moisture. Three harvests was performed beginning on
March 24, 1988. Marketable yield and fruit size were determined from harvest samples.
 Marketable yield ranged from 5.00 t ha-' for Crimson Sweet to 18.2 t ha' for Royal Charleston (Table 14).
Blossom end rot was observed in Royal Charleston. Crimson Sweet produced the largest fruit with an average
weight of 6.5 kg, followed by Hybrid Royal Sweet (6.1 kg). Sugar Doll produced the smallest fruit.
 In general, yields from this trial were higher than those obtained in 1979. In the 1979 trial, Royal Charleston,
Sugar Doll and Crimson Sweet produced about 2.0 t ha-. Results of the 1987 trial clearly indicate that Royal
Charleston, Royal Sweet and Dixie Lee are watermelon varieties with potential for the Virgin Islands.