CHAPTER II 

 CONDITIONS AFFECTING GROWTH 



Climatic Conditions. — As stated in the previous 

 chapter, the melon is strictly a warm-weather plant, 

 both the muskmelon and the watermelon coming 

 from tropical or subtropical countries. Like many 

 other warm-weather plants, however, they have 

 gradually worked their way northward, until they 

 are now both freely grown in many parts of the 

 north temperate zone. Neither of the species have, 

 however, reached the point in hardiness where they 

 will stand a temperature which even approaches the 

 freezing point. 



It is useless, therefore, to attempt to gfrow melons 

 in outdoor culture by planting them before all dan- 

 ger of frost is over and the minimum temperature 

 of the air has reachel 60° or higher. As will be 

 seen farther on, some time may be gained by start- 

 ing the seeds in a hotbed or greenhouse, and trans- 

 planting to the open ground later on, but even this 

 must not be done until the atmosphere has become 

 thoroughly warmed up. This will be indicated in 

 different sections of the country by the time when 

 Indian corn is usually planted. 



Soil Conditions. — If the seeds of almost any of 

 our upland plants are planted in soil which is cold, 

 or which has not been properly drained, they will 

 either rot or remain in the soil in a dormant condi- 

 tion until it has reached the proper temperature. 

 This is especially true with such plants as those 



