FORTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT. 149 



While there must be complete unity of management, it is fundamental 

 that a central federation shall be formed so as not to destroy the 

 initiative and individuality of each locality or of different groups of 

 farmers who maj^ be associated for a common jiurpose in the same lo- 

 cality." 



MUSKMELON CULTURE. 



MR. C. AV. WAID^ M. A. C. 

 CLIMATE AND SOIL. 



The muskmelon does best in a climate where the summers are long 

 enough to mature the crop from seed and where the temperature is 

 high. The plants will not stand frost and cold winds are frequently very 

 detrimental. An abundant rainfall evenly distributed over the growing 

 season is also very important unless irrigation is resorted to. Musk- 

 melons can be produced on a variety of soils providing they are well 

 drained, well supplied with available plant food and in a good mechanical 

 condition. The soil must be capable of holding moisture for a long time 

 and in liberal quantities. The sandy types are to be preferred because 

 of ease of working and warmth although very good results are frequently 

 secured on clay and silt loams. 



ROTATION. 



The history of melon growing is that as the years go by diseases be- 

 come more numerous and destructive. The fact that so little effort is 

 usually made to keep up any kind of a rotation is one reason for the 

 increase in the troubles from diseases. Where there is no rotation of 

 crops but melons after melons, the soil will tend to become exhausted 

 unless manure or green crops and commercial fertilizers are used liberally 

 On some truck farms land is so scarce and so valuable that it is hardly 

 l)racticable to run a rotation in which clover or grain crops are included 

 unless the clover is used simply as a cover crop. Where there is a 

 sufficient area, it is advisable to adopt some kind of a rotation. In 

 sections where wheat is grown, a wheat, clover and melon rotation is a 

 good one. Oats, clover and melons is another good rotation. Where 

 peas are grown for canning, a pea, clover, melon rotation would be 

 satisfactory. In fact there are a number of combinations which may 

 be made with good results but clover or some other good growing legume 

 should alwaj'S be included as one of the crops. 



PREPARING FOR PLANTING. 



Melon ground should be plowed early in the spring or if it is level 

 ground, it may be plowed in the fall and either plowed again in the 

 spring or disked deep. It should be harrowed frequently until time 

 for planting. When manure is to be used in the hills, furrows should 

 be run each way just before the planting is to be done. Well rotted 

 manure should be placed at the intersections, a small forkful in each 



