Cultural Directions. 211 



MARTYNIA. 



Marty nia proboscidea. German, Gemshorner; French, Mar- 

 tynia; English, Unicorn Plant. An annual of easiest culture; 

 plant large, strong-growing 

 rather coarse, yet decidedly 

 interesting. Flowers large 

 and similar to catalpa in 

 shape; fruit curved, and ter- 

 minating in a long, hooked 

 point. While young and 

 tender it is frequently used 

 for pickles. Sow seed where 

 plant is to grow, giving each a space of 2 or 3 feet square. If 

 seed is allowed to ripen on the plant, and to scatter upon the 

 ground, plenty of plants may be expected to spring up the 

 following season. 



MELON MUSK. 



Cucumis Melo. German, Me lone ; French and Spanish, Melon. 

 Where climatic conditions in the northern states, and shipping 

 and marketing facilities at the south are favorable to their cul- 

 ture, melons constitute a very important money crop of the farm 

 garden. For the home garden they are almost indispensable 

 everywhere. I believe there are few things, if any, that are a 

 more general object of desire for the younger members of the 

 family, or would be more painfully missed by them, than a good 

 supply of fine melons ; and I am sure no household that has 

 once had its fill of the fruit, in all its freshness and lusciousness 

 as it comes directly from the garden, will ever wish to forego 

 the pleasures of the melon patch again, even for a single season. 



SOIL AND CULTURE. A rich, warm loam, more or less sandy, 

 and plenty of good compost or fertilizers are required. New land 

 on the wide rotation system is always preferable, in order to 

 reduce the dangers from insect and disease attacks to a minimum, 

 ^nd nothing better could be found very easily than a young 

 clover or old pasture lot. Plow deep, and otherwise prepare the 

 ground well, then mark off rows from 4 to 6 feet apart each way, 

 according to the strength of the soil, and vigor of variety to be 

 planted. A shovelful or two of well-rotted compost is mixed 

 with the soil at each intersection, and a large broad hill formed 

 with the hoe. 



Next drop a dozen or two of seeds scatteringly over the hill, 

 and cover with half an inch of soil, pressing it firmly over the 

 seed with the back of hoe. Only the three or four thriftiest 

 plants are left in each hill; the rest must be pulled up at the 



