292 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



melons, and enjoy the luscious fruit of his labors with his friends and 

 family. But as an industry with the view of supplying our vast and 

 increasing markets, it is yearly growing into importance. 



When the gold fields of California were opened, Mr. G. G. Briggs, 

 instead of digging for gold, made a specialty of planting melons in the 

 valley near one of its streams, and in a few months his wagons were 

 carrying the products of his fields far and near to hungry miners, 

 thereby reaping a rich and golden harvest. 



One of the best things we have from that otherwise much overrated 

 territory, Oklahoma, is that Mr. Hubler last summer planted on his 

 claim an acre of watermelons, and sold from it one hundred and twenty- 

 five dollars' worth. 



Most of you are aware that in the southeast corner of our State 

 lies a tract of land most peculiarly adapted to this fruit, and they have 

 there made a specialty of growing melons by the hundreds of acres, 

 and to become better informed and mutually benefited, have formed 

 themselves into a "Melon-Growers' Association." The shipments last 

 season from this region alone were upward of four thousand car loads 

 of melons. 



In the rich alluvial bottom lands between Kansas City and St. 

 Joseph large fields are exclusively set apart for the culture of this 

 vine ; especially near the several lakes in this region, every thing seems 

 to be most favorable to a luxuriant growth and fruitfulness of the 

 melon. From these statements it will be seen that the melon requires 

 a warm, rich, sandy alluvial soil, a situation where every ray of sun- 

 light can be had ; consequently very clean the fields should be. Con- 

 stant and thorough cultivation is very necessary. This is a plant that 

 cannot bear neglect. The rich, crispy sweetness of the melon depends 

 in a large measure on its rapid and unstinted growth. 



The musk varieties can be in hills from six to eight feet apart. A 

 liberal enriching of the soil with a few shovels of well-rotted manure, 

 with addition of a little guano, will give good results. Cutting back 

 should be attended to; thinning the fruit in some seasons more than 

 others cannot be overlooked where good specimens are desired. Of 

 the many varieties of this class, there appears to be no marked prefer- 

 ence among planters. 



The watermelon requires more space than the former, and is more 

 partial to a warmer situation. In general treatment one will do for the 

 other. Many gardeners start the seeds in hot-beds on pieces of sod 

 or loose woven baskets. This is done in order to move the plants 

 without breaking the roots and causing a check in the growth. 



