Cultivation of the Watermelon 107 



plants appear, scratch the surface of the hills very 

 lightly to break the crust. Keep the surface around the 

 young plants stirred. As soon as the plants form the 

 first true leaf, thin to two in the hill, selecting vigorous, 

 stocky plants. Continue shallow cultivation, receding 

 from the row with the plow as the plants grow. Plant a 

 row of peas in the middle of the spaces betw^een the 

 rows. This is of especial importance in old land free 

 from the roots of dead plants, since the pea vines will 

 be grasped by the tendrils, and anchor the long vines and 

 thus prevent them from being turned and rolled by 

 severe w4nds. The fact that the new ground and old 

 broomsedge fields contain many dead roots on the sur- 

 face to which the vines can cling, constitutes one advan- 

 tage in favor of such fields. The vines should never be 

 moved in the cultivation, nor should they be cultivated 

 while wTt. Some writers advise pinching back the main 

 vine as for cantaloupes. This is a mistake, since the 

 female flowers appear principally on the main vines of 

 the watermelon but on the branches of the cantaloupe. 

 This plant, having the stamens and pistils in different 

 flowers, naturally crosses very readily. This has multi- 

 plied varieties to such an extent that the novice experi- 

 ences great difficulty in selecting. Some of the best for 

 home use are: Melver, a very sweet melon, oblong in 

 form, striped exterior, flesh ideal in texture and 

 quality. Rind too tender for shipping. This melon 

 was originated by Col. E. R. Mclver, of Darlington 

 county, South Carolina, and had a local popularity 

 long before it had a place in the seed catalogues. 

 Klecklexfs Sweet is another melon of superior table 



