214 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



vines into the row and cultivate between them as long as the vines 

 will not be injured by such treatment. And here let me say that in 

 the growing of every crop a careful attention to little details at the 

 proper time makes the difference between the profits of different 

 individuals, which difference many times is not so explained. 



For field culture it is generally understood that the seeds are 

 planted out in the ground as early as possible, but I find if one has 

 the facilities for growing the melon plants earlier under glass and 

 transplanting to the field at the proper time, one can get earlier 

 fruit but perhaps not so much of it. If this is done the plants need 

 shading for a week or more after planting out, or until they become 

 established. If seeds are planted one should put some fertilizer in 

 each hill, cover it with fine mellow earth, and upon this drop the 

 seeds, which are covered with a half inch to an inch of earth. 



Constant attention to stirring the soil around the plant and 

 keeping down the weeds stimulates early and vigorous growth. 



Some years the cut worms cause much damage, no matter how 

 vigilant one may be, and the method of placing shingles or paste- 

 board around the plants and into the soil, sevefal inches below the 

 surface, while very good on a few plants is not practicable for ex- 

 tensive cultivation. The little striped bug, commonly known as the 

 squash bug, is the greatest enemy to the melon plants. I have tried 

 many preventives, such as a weak solution of Paris green, lime 

 or dust sprinkled around the plants and on the leaves, covering each 

 hill with mosquito netting (an expensive method), planting pump- 

 kin seeds around the hill, to give plants for the bugs to feed upon 

 instead of melons, but nothing yet has proved satisfactory. My 

 experience has shown that if the plants are grown under glass and 

 set out at tiie proper time the bugs rarely harm them. 



Some growers recommend nipping off the ends of the vines 

 when they are three or four feet long, to get larger fruit, but we 

 have not found this practicable. 



As to varieties, the Emerald Gem has proved most profitable 

 with us. being quite early and of the finest flavor. Though a little 

 small, we have built up for it a reputation which makes a demand 

 for this variety in preference to all others. 



To sum up the essential points of the field culture of melons we 

 have : 



First : Deep ploughing and thorough harrowing. 



Second : Marking rows three or four feet apart and setting 

 the plants at intervals of two and one-half feet in the row. 



Third : Early and constant cultivation, especially around the 

 plants. 



