WATERMELON 293 



Thin when well up to three or four plants in the 

 hill, and when the vines are strong enough to resist 

 insects thin again to two plants in the hill. Thin 

 pots to one in the pot. 



Fig. 142. The Citron or Preserving Watermelon. 



Set out house-grown plants when frosts are past, 

 two to the hill. 



Cultivate with hand tools till the plants cover the 

 ground. 



Thinning of fruit will give the best results. Thin 

 to one or two to the vine. 



Fertilize at setting out, or when the seedlings are 

 up, with a little nitrate of soda to each hill. It is 

 sometimes the practice to set a flower-pot or drain-tile 

 in the hill, and water nightly with weak solutions of 

 nitrate of soda and phosphates. Or use liquid manure. 

 These feedings with nitrogen should not be kept up 



