268 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



planting. Sod ground has advantages in the matter 

 of irrigation, as the soil is full of grass roots and ex- 

 ceedingly porous, thus taking up water readily from 

 the bottom of the furrow, and the moisture finds its 

 way to the plant from below by capillarity. Cultiva- 

 tion should be commenced as soon as the plants show 

 above the ground, and continued at frequent intervals 

 until the growth of the vines makes it impradlicable. 

 Three irrigations usually suffice if the soil be well cul- 

 tivated, but many growers irrigate four to six times, 

 making the water take the place of cultivation. The 

 best melons are produced with two or three irrigations 

 and frequent stirring of the soil so long as possible. 

 As long as the vines show a frosty appearance in the 

 sunlight they are thrifty and are not suffering for 

 water. In no instance should irrigation !)e given to 

 the melon crop after the fruit is half grown, as the last 

 days of the melon's existence in the field are needed 

 for the chemical acflion that is going on in changing 

 the juices into saccharine by the crystalizing process 

 of the sun and the a<5lion of the air. Flooding is for- 

 bidden, as it bakes the ground around the younger 

 plants and induces decay in the older ones. 



Cantaloupes. — Lay out the rows the first week in 

 May and plant the hills eight by eight feet, putting in 

 long hills longitudinally with the irrigating furrows. 

 Some growers turn the water right on, having given 

 no irrigation before the seeds are planted. The plants 

 should be irrigated very thoroughly for half a day, 

 when two leaves are formed, then with a shovel-plow 

 cover the water in the original furrow so as to retain 

 the moisture in the soil. Then take a one-horse five- 



