Excerpts from the report: The watermelon is a native of semidesert regions of tropical Africa. It is sensitive to frost and is most productive where there is a long, warm, growing season. In the 1950's, about 90 percent of the watermelon acreage of the United States was in the Southern and Southwestern States and California. Watermelon shipments begin in late spring from Florida and California. Shipments follow in early summer from Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, most of the other Southern States, and California. In late summer watermelons are marketed from the Central and Middle Atlantic States. The season ends about October 1.