Mi:sKiiP:j.()x ci LTiiii-: ix michkiax 



SiKH-inl Bullciiii '.)."). 



BY ('. n-. \VAII>. 



Adaptdltiliti/ 



The muskiiK'lou is jiiowu coiimicicially in ei'rlaiii si'clions in ilic 

 southern and central portions of Mirliiyan. It is a favorite garden cio]) 

 in all parts of the state where it can be matured. It is a heat loving plant, 

 and does best where tlie suinniers are long and warm. 



By starting tlie planis in a greenliouse or hotbed and translVrring tlu'ui 

 to the open ground as soon as the weatlier will permit, muskmelons may l»e 

 successfully grown wliere the snninicis are too short for tlie fruit to reach 

 maturity when the seeds are planted in the open ground. The frnit will 

 be of better (piality when the rainfall is light than when it is excessive 

 during the period of later growth and maturity of the nudons. allhongli a 

 njiiform supply of soil moisture is essential for best results. 



The muskmelon may be gi-own on a \ariety of soils. .\s a coniniercial 

 croj) it is usually i-aised on loamy soils. A warm sandy loam becanse ot 

 the ease of working and earliness of maturity of the melons, is especially 

 well suited to this crop. Practically any soil which can be use<l for gard- 

 ening may be put in condition to jiroduce melons. The location should, 

 however, be free from danger of late spring and early snmmer frosts. Tlie 

 essential soil re(|uirements ai-e tlio!-ongh diainage, an abnndant snp])ly 

 of readily available plant lood, and a mechanical condititMi which is like 

 that of a virgin soil. It is fnlly as n«*cessary that the soil be mellow ami 

 well sup])lied with organic matter, as it is thai a iiood snpply of ]tlant 

 food be a\ailable. 



I* n Id I i mi 



If a rotation of croi)s is possible it will be advanlageoiis lo ]»lan a sys- 

 tem in which melons follow clover. Snch a system liel]»s add Icrtilitv. im 

 proves the meciianical conilition of the st»il and lessens the danger rioni 

 hicNmi diseases. 



lOven if a ci-oj* rotation is not ]Hacticable, as is usually t he case on t ruck 

 areas, the growing of clover or other legnmes as a coxcr ciop will hel|i to 

 keej) the soil in good c(uidition for other crops as well as foi- melons. .\ 

 rotation of crops on a truck farm shoidd be followed which will avoid the 

 necessity of growing melons after mel()ns. On small garden areas the 

 hills of melons sliould be changed from one place to anothei- each season. 



\'<irit I its 



Careful «-onsiderat ion ntnsi be ^iven to the selection oT varieties whether 

 grown for honu* use oi- tor niaiket. If the cro]» is grown c<»niinercially the 

 market requirements must be known. For a local market in the southern 

 l)art of the state the large fruitius sorts snch as Osage (Miller's Cream I 

 and Tip Top will usually be sa t isl';ict(u y. They are <>\' •superior ((Uality 



