8o THE WATERMELON 



During the past few years the writer has given much atten- 

 tion to growing the watermelon here in New England, and 

 has met with such marked success that it is thought our 

 results cannot help from being of general interest. At first 

 it was hoped that by a careful study of varieties we might 

 find one that would mature early. Here and there at fairs 

 could be found a person who had fairly good specimens, but 

 the general idea seemed to prevail that these were accidents 

 rather than otherwise. Our experience at the experiment 

 station seemed to show that most of the varieties planted 

 malured each season. One gardener was found who was 

 making a very marked success in growing the variety known 

 as Cole's Early. His success, which extended over a period 

 of years, not only in growing them successfully but in market- 

 ing them with profit, led the writer to undertake a general 

 test of many varieties, also a study of methods ot culture, 

 soils, classification, etc. 



During the winter of 1 899-1 900 seeds of a large list of 

 watermelons were secured from various sources, making in 

 all forty-six (46) varieties. 



In the spring of 1900 arrangements were made with 'Mr. 

 Harry F. Hall of Gonic, N. H., the gardener above referred 

 to, to cooperate with the experiment station in carrying on 

 the test of varieties and other experiments desired in this con- 

 nection throughout that season. 



Mr. Hall's marked success in growing the watermelon for 

 a number of years on a field scale is thus embodied in this 

 report as the basis for success. His methods were closely 

 followed, and it is from his experience largely, as well as per- 

 sonal observation and note taking, that the foundation of this 

 bulletin is formed. Four new varieties in addition are re- 

 ported for the past season. 



I . Culture 



(a) Soil and Location. The experimental patch upon 

 which the melons shown and described in this bulletin were 

 grown was prepared by plowing under a heavy application 

 of coarse, strawy stable manure the preceding fall. The field 



