The Bulletin. 15 



CANTALOUPES. 



The soil mostly used for commercial cantaloupe growing is warm, 

 light, sandy or sandy loam soil, though good but later melons can be 

 grown on various other types of soils, provided they are well drained 

 and thoroughly prepared. 



The preparation for cantaloupes should be deep and thorough. The 

 land should be prepared at least a few weeks before planting and care 

 taken not to turn too much of the subsoil on top of the ground. The seed 

 are usually drilled rather thickly in rows 5 or 6 feet apart and the 

 plants afterwards thinned to 2 to 4 feet apart in the row. Beginning 

 immediately after the plants are up, the soil should be stirred thor- 

 oughly at frequent intervals, particularly if the season is dry. Culti- 

 vation is continued until the vines interfere with further working. 

 Sometimes cowpeas are sown at the last working, which afford shade 

 for the melons and give a good crop of hay. 



As the soil chosen for commercial melon growing is usually deficient 

 in vegetable matter, a larger amount of this constituent can be profita- 

 bly applied than would be needed on the average soil. A compost of 

 leaf mold and cow manure applied in the "hills" or "drills" will be 

 found of special advantage. If "green" manure is used, it is well to 

 incorporate it Avith the soil some time before planting. A fertilizer 

 analyzing about 



Phosphoric Acid 8 per cent 



Nitrogen • 3 or 4 per cent 



Potash 8 per cent 



may be used to advantage. An application of 1,000 to 1,500 pounds 

 per acre, mixed thoroughly with the soil, will usually give excellent 

 results. 



It is advisable to obtain nitrogen from more than one source, such 

 as nitrate of soda, dried blood, and cotton-seed meal. Several light 

 applications of nitrate of soda are often used around the plants while 

 they are growing. 



Varieties: 



Jenny Lind. — Small, round, deeply ribbed melon, flattened at the 

 ends. The flesh is yellowish green and of good quality. 



Rocky Foed, a selected strain from the Netted Gem. Small, round 

 fruit. Very productive. Flesh yellowish green, solid and of good 

 flavor. The leading commercial variety. 



Emerald Gem. — Fruit small, smooth, and slightly flattened at blos- 

 som end. Rather early. Flesh yellow, firm, and of good flavor. Excel- 

 lent for home use. 



