THE TRANSPLANTING METHOD 225 



practice, the plants are usually thinned to one in a place at dis- 

 tances of two to two and one-half feet in the row. 



The Transplanting Method. — Since it is impossible to increase 

 the earliness of the crop to any great extent by early planting in 

 the field, some growers have adopted the transplanting method. 

 This makes it possible to plant the seed three or four weeks earlier 

 than would otherwise be feasible, and to grow the plants under 

 controlled conditions of temperature and moisture during their 

 most critical period. It also simplifies the matter of protection 

 from striped beetles. The main objections to this method are the 

 expense for sash, and the difficulties attending transplanting. 



A melon plant will not survive transplanting if the root system 

 is disturbed. For this reason the seed is sown on inverted sods, 

 in pots or in dirt bands. The dirt bands are used almost exclu- 

 sively by commercial growers. These are thin strips of wood 

 veneer, three inches wide and eighteen inches long, scored at inter- 

 vals of four inches so that they can be bent without breaking 

 (Fig, 132). When folded ready for use, each band resembles a 

 small strawberry box without the bottom. These bands are placed 

 close together in a hotbed and filled level full with fine, rich soil. 

 With a block of wood shaped for the purpose, the soil within the 

 bands is pressed until it is one-half to three-fourth inch below the 

 top of the band. If only part of the dirt is put in at first, and is 

 pressed down firmly, then the rest of the dirt put on and pressed, 

 the soil in the band will be more compact throughout and will 

 hold together better in the transplanting than if the dirt were 

 pressed only once. Unless the soil used was very moist, the bed 

 is then thoroughly watered. Next, three seeds are placed in each 

 band. These are covered with fine, loose soil deep enough to fill 

 the band. This soil is not firmed. 



The hotbed for melon plants should have full exposure to light 

 and be maintained at a high temperature — about 85° F. during 

 the day and 65° to 70° at night. As much ventilation should be 

 given as the weather will permit, and care exercised to avoid 

 over-watering. 



As soon as the plants are well started, they are usually thinned 

 to two in a band by cutting off the extra plant with a sharp knife. 

 The thinning is done when the plants are about the size of those 

 represented in Fig. 133. 



When the plants are about four weeks old from the planting 

 of seed they will be in the right condition for transplanting to the 

 15 



