THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 271 



themselves the majority will crook their necks, but some few will 

 remain quite straight, and this on the same vine with perfectly 

 formed crooks. The gourds should be left as long as possible on the 

 vines to thoroughly thicken their shells. If picked green the shell 

 will be no thicker than stiff cardboard and in idrying it is very liable 

 to crack. Frost will injure the gourds if they are left on the vines 

 too long. (B. P. I. Cir. 41.) 



CANTALOUPE. 



Cantaloupe growing, as developed since its origin near Rocky- 

 ford, Colorado, in 1885, requires unusual judgment and cultural skill 

 on the part of the farmer. Co-operative organization and good busi- 

 ness management are also essential, for only by these means can the 

 crop be properly timed and prepared for shipment, and necessary 

 arrangements made with transportation and selling agencies. 



Seed. Seed should be most carefully selected with reference to 

 flavor and appearance of the fruit; to good shipping characters, in- 

 cluding small cavities and heavy netting; and to a tendency to pro- 

 duce melons of standard size. Early strains are desired for some 

 situations ; but in Arizona rust resistance is not a necessary character 

 as this class of diseases is little to be feared under the arid conditions. 

 Seed should be purchased only from most reliable sources. Rocky- 

 ford growers are at present the principal means of supply. 



Soil. Experience has proven that a sandy loam is the soil best 

 suited for cantaloupes, and that its condition of tilth and the avail- 

 able fertility are the prime essentials in bringing cantaloupes to 

 quick maturity. The secret of getting soil in that ashy, mellow con- 

 dition so desirable for cantaloupes is largely one of experience, for 

 hardly two farms can be handled the same. In general, there must 

 be moisture in the soil over winter to get the disintegrating effect of 

 frost, and plowing should not be done until the ground is dry enough 

 to pulverize mellow. Barnyard manure has long been the means of 

 supplying fertility to force cantaloupes to early maturity. Old alfalfa 

 ground is most excellent for cantaloupe culture. Bermuda sod 

 plowed up and exposed to ihe sun without irrigation the preceding 

 summer makes excellent cantaloupe ground, the intensive cultivation 

 necessary serving both to benefit the crop and to restrain this formi- 

 dable weed. 



Planting. The first requisite aside from moisture for a good 

 start is warm weather, as cantaloupe seed cannot germinate when 

 the ground is cold and freezing; and if perchance the days are warm 

 enough to germinate the seed that is planted in March or April, the 

 cold nights that are sure to follow will offset the advantage of early 

 planting. If there is a secret in getting early cantaloupes it is in 

 growing the crop from start to finish with a uniform unchecked 

 growth ; the cantaloupe does not seem to have the power to rally from 

 a check in growth or an injury from an insect and still makes its 

 normal development. The back-set not only cuts off the production 

 of early cantaloupes but seriously affects the size and quality of the 

 melon. There are numerous instances where unfavorable conditions 

 of growth have produced a large quantity of pony melons, while 



