of the ears and also makes them much larger. The increased ^oo'^ ^°^ 

 gains per acre when the Nitrate has been used in this way ^ 

 have ranged from ^i8 to ^40 — a very profitable use of Nitro- "9 

 gen, as the gain is really in excess of that which would be 

 obtained by average methods of manuring. 



Soils suitable for the growth of musk- Muskmelons. 

 melons are preferably light, sandy loams, 

 not naturally well supplied with any of the constituents of 

 plant growth. The crop does not require large quantities 

 of plant-food, but must have the needed amount in available 

 form early in the season. Experiments that have been con- 

 ducted through several seasons show that the best form of 

 Nitrogen for this crop is the Nitrate, and that preferably two 

 applications should be made. The increase in yield from 

 the addition of Nitrate of Soda has averaged, practically, 

 100 per cent., with an average increased value of crop 

 of ^100 per acre. It is shown, further, that as in the case of 

 very early crops, that the earliest ripened fruit is not found 

 upon the plants which received the extra fertilizer, but rather 

 upon those insufficiently nourished, and thus forced to 

 maturity because of a lack of food; besides, these specimens 

 are usually small and of poorer quality. The increased 

 value is obtained because of a large crop of finer quality, 

 as a very marked influence of the added nitrogenous sub- 

 stance is noticed in marketable quality of the total crop, 

 reducing very materially the percentage of culls. The 

 experiments showed that, while the percentage of culls, 

 where no Nitrogen was applied, averaged 40 per cent., the 

 average per cent, of culls on the fertilized area was but 25 

 per cent., indicating that the normal development of fruit 

 requires a sufficient abundance of available Nitrogen. 



On light soils, apply broadcast during fall m th h f 

 or winter, 8 to 10 tons of manure, which p 

 should be plowed in early in spring. After 

 the land is prepared, a high-grade fertilizer should be applied 

 broadcast, at the rate of 600 to 800 pounds per acre, and 

 harrowed in previous to planting. After the plants are well 

 started, apply 100 pounds per acre of Nitrate of Soda; before 

 the vines begin to run, make an additional application of 

 100 pounds per acre. Care should be taken in the applica- 

 tion of the Nitrate, as suggested in the case of the other 



