EXrERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



563 



If the soil is firmed with the hoe it is a good plan to draw a little iiion; 

 soil over the hills after the firming is done. It is well to i»lant a large 

 number of seeds, a dozen or more, in each hill to overcome the injury or 

 loss from cutworms and striped beetles. The seeds should be scattered in 

 the hill, as there is less chance of the cutworms destroying nil of the 

 pliints than when Ihey are planted in a bunch. It is also a good plan to 

 mak(^ two or three plantings a few days apart. This will insure a good 

 stand and the extra cost of labor and seeds will not be large. 



Setting the Plants 



^^lien the plants have been started in the greenhouse, hotbed, or cold- 

 frame, take great care in transplanting not to disturb the roots or soil. It 

 is easier to transfer plants started in sods or dirt bands without injury 

 than when they are started in clay plots. When the plants are taken to 

 the field, the dirt bands are lifted by means of a spade or flat shovel and 



Jtti 



.-sfc. 



A promising field of McIuils. 



placed on a wagon bed with a level l)Ottom. The band is iioL reiiio\e<l iiiilil 

 llie plants aie in the liill, where they are to remain, and the soil lias ix-eii 

 drawn up closely about the outside- of the l)and. The soil should b(; 

 pressed gently about the plants, but not packed hard enough to disturb 

 the roots. 



Spacing 



Muskmelons are planted in hills or drills. On light soil where the vine 

 growth is not heav};, four bj^ four feet will be sufficient. On richer soils, 

 five l)y five feet is better; and on some soils, six Iw six feet will not be too 

 far apart. Some growers prefer five b}' seven, or four by six feet spacing. 

 When the melons are drilled, the rows are seldom less than six feet apart, 

 and the plants from one to two feet apart in the rows. One plant in a hill, 

 as well as each plant by itself in the drill, is the more common practice. 

 It is seldom advisable to leave more than two plants in each hill after 



