MUSKMELONS 



221 



of the stumps and roots. Land slightly deficient in humus can be 

 put into condition for growing melons by plowing under a clover 

 sod, or a crop of cowpeas or rye, or a coat of manure applied 

 broadcast. If melons are to be grown as one of the crops in a 

 regular rotation, they should constitute the crop immediately 

 following the leguminous crop designed to add humus and nitrogen 

 to the soil. 



Even with careful attention to rotation and the incorporation 

 of humus by plowins: under catch crops or manure, ordinary farm 







^mm 



Fig. LSI. — A tiood hill of muskmelons. 



land — including good corn land — is not sufficiently rich to produce 

 a satisfactory crop of melons without the use of fertilizing material 

 in the hills. It is only on garden soil that has been made exceed- 

 ingly rich by repeated applications of manure that it is wise to 

 attempt to grow melons without special treatment of the hills. 

 Various fertilizers have been suggested, but the material most 

 extensively used and most certain of producing satisfactory results 

 is well-rotted stable manure or compost. 



Time of Planting. — The muskmelon is a warm season crop, 

 and unless the soil is warm and the weather favorable the seeds 

 will not germinate nor the plants grow. It is therefore usually 



