The Bulletin. 7 



Green manures should consist of a legume, either clover, cowpeas, or 

 soy beans. These crops turned under will add nitrogen in addition to 

 the humus, and will also improve the texture of the soil and make it 

 more easily cultivated, besides increasing the bacterial activities so neces- 

 sary to plant life. These crops should be turned under early, in the late 

 winter or very early in the spring, and before plowing under they should 

 be disked in order that they may be well worked in the soil. In addition 

 to the green manure which is depended upon for the source of the larger 

 share of nitrogen, chemical fertilizer must be added to supply the potash 

 and phosphoric acid. "Where it is impossible to have either stable or 

 green manure, a complete fertilizer must be used. This fertilizer is 

 made up of different substances, all of which contain some form of nitro- 

 gen, phosphoric acid, or potash derived from organic or inorganic 

 sources. A complete fertilizer contains all three of the principal ele- 

 ments of plant food. 



There is no set rule for the application of specified amounts of chemi- 

 cal fertilizer to be used. The amount and kinds will vary with the loca- 

 tion and the conditions under which it is to be applied. Generally speak- 

 ing, the light soils best adapted to cantaloupe growing are well supplied 

 with phosphoric acid, but are deficient in nitrogen and potash. Each 

 grower, therefore, must determine for himself the amount and kinds of 

 fertilizer best suited to his particular location. Since soils of the same 

 type in different localities require different mixtures, it must be borne 

 in mind that to secure the best growth it is necessary that the mineral 

 elements be readily available. The vines do best only when they have a 

 steady and continuous growth. In no way must this growth be checked. 

 To secure a steady growth too much nitrogen in the form of nitrate of 

 soda must not be used, since it is of quick action, but of short duration. 

 If it is possible to secure only nitrate of soda as a source of nitrogen, it 

 must be applied in small quantities in different applications. The source 

 of nitrogen from different compounds, such as dried blood, tankage, 

 cotton-seed meal, etc., mixed with the nitrate of soda, give the best results 

 because they allow for continuous growth of both vine and fruit. The 

 most universally used formula throughout the commercial cantaloupe 

 sections is : 



Available phosphoric acid 8 per cent. 



Nitrogen ^ 3 per cent. 



Actual potash 8 per cent. 



Available phosphoric acid 8 per cent. 



Nitrogen 4 per cent. 



Actual potash 10 per cent. 



These formulae are made up of nitrate of soda, cotton-seed meal, acid 

 phosphate, and muriate of potash. Good results have been obtained by 



