300 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



jections to this method are the expense for sash, and the difficulties 

 attending the transplanting. A melon plant will not survive trans- 

 planting if the root system is disturbed. For this reason the seed is 

 sown on inverted sod, in pots or in dirt bands. The dirt bands are 

 used almost exclusively by commercial growers. These are thin 

 strips of wood veneer, three inches wide and eighteen inches long, 

 scored at intervals of four inches so that they can be bent without 

 breaking. When folded ready for use, each band resembles a small 

 strawberry box without the bottom. These bands are placed close 

 together in a hotbed and filled level full with fine, rich soil. With a 

 block of wood shaped for the purpose, the soil within the bands is 

 pressed until it is % to % inch below the top of the band. If only 

 part of the dirt is put in at first, and is pressed down firmly, then the 

 rest of the dirt put on and pressed, the soil in the band will be more 

 compact throughout and will hold together better in the transplant- 

 ing than if the dirt were pressed only once. Unless the soil used was 

 very inoist, the bed is then thoroughly watered. Next, three seeds 

 are placed in each band. These are covered with fine, loose soil deep 

 enough to fill the band. This soil is not firmed. The hotbed for 

 melon plants should have full exposure to light and be maintained at 

 a high temperature about 85 degrees F. during the day and 65 to 

 70 degrees at night. As much ventilation should be given as the 

 weather will permit, and care exercised to avoid over-watering. As 

 soon as the plants are well started, they are thinned to two in a band 

 by cutting off the extra plant with a sharp knife. When the plants 

 are about four weeks old from the planting of seed they will be in the 

 right condition for transplanting to the field. They are then com- 

 pact, stocky plants with about four rough leaves. If allowed to re- 

 main longer in the bed they begin to stretch for light and are of lit- 

 tle value for planting, for the long naked stems, unable to support 

 themselves and unaccustomed to direct sunlight, would easily be sun- 

 burned, and the plants seriously checked if not killed outright. 



Cultivation. Whether the melons are transplanted from a hot- 

 bed or grown from seed planted in the field, the tillage of the crop 

 should begin as soon as the plants can be seen. In the case of trans- 

 planted plants, this will be the same day that they are set in the field. 

 The early tillage should be deep, and as close to the plant as it is feas- 

 ible to run the cultivator. The object of this deep tillage is to estab- 

 lish a deep root system so that the plants will not suffer so severely 

 from dry weather later in the season. In the case of a field planted 

 crop it is not feasible to cultivate so close to the plants early in the 

 season because of the danger of tearing out the little plants. For this 

 deep tillage a one-horse five-shovel cultivator, often weighted with a 

 rock, is the tool most commonly used. It is customary to follow this 

 with a "boat" or a 14-tooth cultivator to more fully pulverize the 

 soil. Tillage is usually given after each rain or at least once each 

 week so that the soil is maintained in a loose friable condition. In 

 addition to the cultivation with a horse, much hand hoeing is re- 

 quired close about the plants. Any crust forming after a rain, is 

 broken, and fresh, moist soil drawn up about the plant. Crab grass 



