GROWING MUSKMELONS FOR MARKET. 



193 



GROWING MUSKMELONS FOR MARKET. 



J. VINCENT BAILEY^ NEWPORT. 



Muskmelon growing in Minnesota, while not carried on so ex- 

 tensively as in some states, is increasing in popularity among mar- 

 ket gardeners, and especially with those who grow for the Twin 

 City markets, as there is quite a local and also a good shipping de- 

 mand for home grown muskmelons. When the season is favor- 

 able the home grown melon is far superior to the shipped stock and 

 will sell for twice the price. 



The crop requires high cultivation. I do not know of a vine 

 crop that will respond to good cultivation and care quicker and 

 with better results that the melon crop. 



The soil should be a sandy loam for forcing early varieties, and 

 a light sand is more desirable. A good quality of melon may be 

 raised on heavy soil under favorable conditions. 



The soil should be fairly rich, but for forcing a poorer soil is 

 to be preferred, as a rich soil tends to produce too large a vine 



The Pasteboard Plaut Protector with Glass Covering in Position for Use. 



F/^.X 



iJ 



The Pasteboard Plant Protector Spread Out. 



growth and makes the melons ripen slowly ; and if the season is 

 wet the melons will crack more in rich soil than in poor soil. 



The man who raises a crop of muskmelons for market has his 

 share of troubles, for there are many insect pests and fungous dis- 

 eases to guard against and destroy. Probably the worst of these is 

 the cut-worm, as there seems to be no very practical way to destroy 

 them, although much may be done to prevent their existence in the 

 melon field by fall plowing, which deprives the moth of shelter for 

 the eggs. Collars of paper or tin placed around each hill and 



