Bulletin No. 35. 132 



melons. 



Culture. Southern Arizona is preeminently a melon grow- 

 ing region. Melons of all varieties thrive here as they do in few- 

 other places in the United States. Melons prefer a rich mellow 

 soil, and do best in our region on land upon which alfalfa has been 

 grown for some time. A heavy dressing of manure is also bene- 

 ficial. Planting may begin as soon as danger from frost is over. 

 This will be during March, April, or May, depending on the loca- 

 lity. The first care is to plant the seed in soil sufficiently moist 

 to bring the young plants up without further irrigation. This is 

 accomplished by making furrows (about six feet apart) through 

 which water is run for a sufficient time to permit the sides to be- 

 come wet to a distance of about a foot. As soon as the soil be- 

 side the furrows is dry enough to be stirred without causing it to 

 bake, the seed is planted in hills six feet apart. A covering of 

 one to two inches is best. The soil immediately above the seed 

 should be pressed firm, and a mulch of drier soil thrown on top 

 to prevent baking and check evaporation. This method should 

 bring the seed up without further irrigation, but if the soil about 

 them seems in danger of drying out before germination is com- 

 pleted (owing to cool, windy weather, or other causes) irrigation 

 through the adjacent furrow must be resorted to. By supplying 

 sufficient water and by frequent cultivation, the young plants 

 should be kept growing without any check. When the vines 

 have attained a length of three to four feet, it will be necessary 

 for cultivation with a horse to stop, but the}' should be kept free 

 from weeds during the entire period of their growth. If they 

 have been planted five to eight feet apart, as they should be, the 

 ground will soon become entirely covered, and the increasing heat 

 from the sun will be thus moderated among them. 



Varieties. All varieties do well. Three characteristics 

 should be kept in mind by those growing for market: — earliness, 

 size and firmness of rind. To those growing them for home use, 

 quality is of first importance, although earliness is very desirable, 

 since melons are most enjoyed early in the summer season. The 

 earliest water melon we have tested at the Station farm is the 

 Augusta. The quality also is excellent, and the size satisfactory. 



