GROWING EARLY MELONS FOR MARKET. 133 



GROWING EXTRA EARLY MELONS FOR MARKET. 



H. C. ELLERGODT, LANESBORO. 



Melon plants can be started in greenhouses by planting the seeds 

 on small pieces of sod about three or four inches square, with the 

 turf turned down. Those that have no greenhouses can build a 

 small and cheap one on the south side of some out-building to pro- 

 tect it against the cold north wind and have part of the slanting 

 roof covered with a tew glazed sashes, made for that purpose, and 

 build a small brick furnace to keep the air warm until the seeds 

 have sprouted. When the plants have attained some size, the house 

 must be ventilated every day, to harden the young plants before 

 they are transplanted out into the open ground. 



The piece of ground where these plants are to be set out, should 

 be thoroughly prepared and the hills well enriched with fresh horse 

 manure, which will heat and keep the soil warm underneath in the 

 early spring, when the ground is generally cold. Boxes about ten 

 or twelve inches square should be made, covered with thin sheet- 

 ing and set over the plants in the hill. Sheeting is better to cover 

 the boxes with than glass, because it will admit sufiBcient air for 

 the plants and keep them safe from frost on a cold night. 



The plants must be looked after occasionally, and if any turn yel- 

 low and are sickly looking more air must be admitted by raising 

 the box from the ground on the south side by placing a lump of 

 dirt under it. 



When the weather gets settled and the days get warm, the boxes 

 can be taken off in the day time and replaced at night, until the 

 weather is sufficiently warm to take them away entirel5^ 



THE LOCATION OF SHELTER BELTS AND THEIR USES 



AND VALUE. 



G. "W. STRAND, TAYLOR'S FALLS. 



The opening of this winter's campaign, no doubt, brought this 

 subject very forcibly to many of our minds, as we slowly wended 

 our way through the drifts of snow to the barn or some other build- 

 ing, with no little difficulty. 



Surprising it is to note the number of homes in a timber section 

 that are as cheerless and exposed to the elements as on some open 

 prairie. Having stripped Mother Earth of her natural garb, they 

 are now in position where they realize the folly of their actions. 



The prairie settler, on the other hand, as soon as he has become 

 well established in his new location cannot but think of the comfort 

 and protection a shelter belt or grove would afford, not only to 

 himself and family but also to his stock and the tenderer forms of 

 plant life. 



Recognizing the modifying and congenial influences of forest 

 growth, all of our successful horticulturists are located in timber 

 sections or have surrounded themselves with shelter belts. 



The intrinsic value of any shelter belt depends largely upon its 

 position relative to the surroundings and the method of planting. 



