152 Subtropical Vegetable-Gardening 



Soil and preparation. 



The soil used for ordinary gardening will be found well 

 adapted to this crop. While muskmelons grow well in a 

 stiff clay soil, they are later in maturing than in warm 

 loam. 



The ordinary preparation will give good results. The 

 land should be plowed shallow, but all turned. If it is 

 a light, sandy loam, four furrows turned together will 

 make a sufficient bed to plant on. 



Fertilizer. 



The proportions of fertilizer ingredients for cantaloupes 

 should be as follows: ammonia, 3^ per cent; available 

 phosphoric acid, 8 per cent; potash, 8 per cent. Use 

 1000 to 1500 pounds of the above formula to an acre. 

 If the soil is poor in nitrogenous matter, the ammonia 

 should be increased to 5 per cent. 



The following table gives the amounts of different 

 fertilizers that may be used to obtain as much of each ele- 

 ment as the formula calls for : 



POUNDS TO THE ACRE 



Ammonia 



500 to 750 cottonseed meal ; or 

 300 to 450 dried blood; or 

 225 to 350 nitrate of soda; or 

 200 to 300 sulfate of ammonia. 



Phosphoric acid . . 800 to 1200 acid phosphate. 

 1000 to ISOOkainit; or 



Potash 



160 to 225 muriate of potash ; or 



160 to 225 high-grade sulfate of potash ; or 



300 to 450 low-grade sulfate of potash. 



