248 Diseases of Truck Crops 



used. If the coarser manure has to be used, care 

 should be taken to apply it from four to eight weeks 

 before planting, thus giving it ample time to decom- 

 pose. To have the greatest effect, manure should 

 be applied as deep in the furrows as possible, since the 

 tap-root grows very deep in the soil. It should be 

 remembered that the watermelon plant has numer- 

 ous long secondary roots which are heavy feeders 

 and which do not benefit from manure if it is applied 

 in the center of the hill. Such superficial application, 

 therefore, often results in starved plants, which be- 

 come further weakened by spells of dry weather, or 

 by other unfavorable conditions. To obviate this 

 condition, some chemical fertilizer should be applied 

 broadcast. The amount of manure necessary for 

 one acre is about seven tons, applied at the rate of 

 one good forkful to each hill. In connection with 

 this, about four hundred pounds of well balanced 

 fertilizer should also be worked in. In very dry 

 seasons, small amounts of nitrate of soda, applied 

 broadcast, will decidedly benefit the plants. The 

 aim in fertilizing should be to supply sufficient humus 

 to the soil, thus also taking care of the soil moisture 

 at a time when the plant needs it most. Moreover, 

 the use of proper food supply will result in more 

 vigorous plants, with an abundance of foliage protect- 

 ing the plants from burning and, at the same time, 

 reducing blossom end rot. 



There are other forms of blossom end rots. Some 

 may possibly be attributed to imperfect fertilization 

 or weak pollen, while others are undoubtedly caused 



