EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



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detail in J^^xlciisioii rirciilar No. 20. .\ii(>IIu'i' incniod is to nii.v well de- 

 composed stable mauiire and garden loam soil. More manure should 

 be used when it is mixed with soil than is necessary when it is composted 

 with sod. In either case, thorough mixin.g should be done and the soil 

 should be carefully sifted before it is ready for use. 



Four or live weeks before the plants can safely be set in the tiekl the 

 melon seeds should be planted. When strawberry baskets, pots, or dirt 

 bands, are used, they should be placed close together in the greenhouse, 

 hotbed, or coldframe, and tilled level full with this specially i)repared soil 

 and then compacted by pressing it with a i)iece of wood. Tnh'ss tlie soil 

 is very moist it should be watered before the seeds are planted. I'"'roin two 

 to four seeds are placed in each basket, pot, or dirt band, and covered 

 with not more than one-half inch of fine loose soil. 



The temperature in the greenhouse or hotbed should be held as near 70" 

 as possible at night and on cloudy days and at h'ast 10 higher on bright 



days. Apply watei- only on Itrigiil days and early in tlie day so that the 

 foliage will dry before night. Do not allow the ])lants to become dry 

 (MKMigh to wilt, nor sliould they be ov'er-watered. (live ventilation when- 

 ever t he weather permits. 



The melon ])lants must be hardened olf Itefore they are taken to the 

 held. This may be done in the greenhonse by kee])ing the ventilatoi's open 

 wide, and in the hotl)ed by removing the sasli. If a coldframe is available, 

 il is a good ])lan to remove ilic melon jtlants from the greenho\ise lo the 

 frames a few days before they are to go to the lield. The i>lants are easily 

 injured by low tem]»erature and cold wind. 



Prppariiuf the ^erdhod 



Some growers prefer fall plowing while others practice early spring 

 plowing. In either case the soil slundd be worked as early as can be done 

 in the spring. A deep, well pulverized seedbed is very essential for the 



