COMMERCIAL TRUCK CROPS ON TRUCKEE-CARSON PROJECT. 21 



flavor. There scons little prospect of overproduction, as much labor 

 and care arc required to secure a good product. The crop is so valu- 

 able that it has been shipped to distant towns in Nevada, as well as 

 into California, where it sells at a higher price than the local product. 

 Giant Pascal and Golden Self-Blanching arc good varieties. 



Only very rich soil should be used for this crop. The seed should 

 be sown in April. A light mulch of old hay will prevent the baking of 

 the soil and protect the small plants from the hot sun when they first 

 come through the ground. The plants should be strong and stocky 

 and about b inches high by the first week in July, when they are set 

 in the field. The growth must be steady and rapid to secure good 

 quality, upon which any extension of the market depends. Blanch- 

 ing will require from 2 to 4 weeks. That part of the crop to be 

 marketed in winter must be placed in pits to prevent freezing. 1 



MELONS. 



Both watermelons and cantaloupes succeed well on the Truckee- 

 Carson Project with comparatively little care. For home use any 

 type of soil suited to ordinary crops will produce melons if well 

 manured. For best results a retentive soil is required, one that is 

 well subdued and well supplied with plant food. Much fresh manure 

 and too much water tend to produce an inferior quality, though water 

 needs to be applied regularly to keep the plants in thrifty condition 

 and to insure steady growth. 



One gardener is growing both cantaloupes and watermelons for 

 shipment, supplying the Southern Pacific dining cars and the whole- 

 sale market in Reno. The varieties of watermelons grown are 

 Kleekley Sweets, Halbert Honey, and Florida Favorite, and of can- 

 taloupes, Emerald Gem, New Fordhook, and Rocky Ford. The 

 Emerald Gem is the best quality, but skill is required in selecting 

 properly ripened fruit and they do not stand shipment very well. 

 The New Fordhook is very early and a much better shipper. The 

 Rocky Ford is good, but later than the New Fordhook. 



Planting. — On rich, old alfalfa land rows 8 feet apart are none 

 too far, as the vines will cover the entire surface. The hills can be 4 

 feet apart in the rows for cantaloupes and 6 for watermelons. Plant- 

 ing can best be done before May 1, using old hay or straw to cover 

 the young plants if severe frost threatens. After the litter has been 

 distributed in a convenient place a man with a fork can cover a large 

 number of plants in a short time on cold nights, and the advantage 

 of an early start for the plants will well repay the trouble. 



Cultivating and irrigating. — There are no special requirements as to 

 cultivation and irrigation, and the cost of bringing the crop to matur- 



1 For further information in regard to celery culture, sec Farmers' Bulletin 2N2, Celery. 

 [Cir. 113] 



