232 THE VINE CROPS 



vines grow. Sometimes this is done even when the field is occupied 

 by fall-sown rye. The standing rye between the rows is thought 

 to be a protection to the young melon vines from cold winds. 

 Some growers, however, plow the whole area of the field in the 

 spring the same as for planting any other crop. In any case, 

 very little or no harrowing is given the land previous to planting. 

 Of course this applies only to typical sandy watermelon land; 

 other types of soil would remain too lumpy following plowing. 

 It must also be remembered in this connection that the water- 

 melons will withstand extreme drought, and hence will thrive 

 even though precautions for the conservation of moisture are 

 largely neglected. Such a course could hardly be followed in the 

 case of any other cultivated crop. 



Preparatory to planting the watermelons, whether the field 

 has previously been plowed or not, it is customary to plow a 

 double furrow where each row is to stand, throwing the dirt out 

 on both sides, or to make a deep furrow with a lister. Usually 

 single shallow furrows are also plowed crossways of the field to 

 mark the rows so that the watermelons can be planted in checks. 

 The distance of planting varies in different localities from eight 

 by eight to ten by twelve feet. Ten by ten is a common distance. 



After the land is furrowed out, a quantity of rotted manure, 

 varying from a spadeful to a scoop-shovelful, is placed where 

 each hill of melons is to stand. After the manure is placed, it is 

 covered by plowing in one or two furrows on each side of the 

 furrow previously made. Sometimes the ridge thus formed is 

 smoothed down by drawing a log or planker over it, or a small 

 block of wood drawn by one horse and guided by handles may be 

 passed crossways over the ridges to level them down merely at 

 the points where the melon hills are to be placed. The seeds are 

 then planted. Usually ten or twelve seeds are planted to the hill, 

 though the vines are thinned down to one, or at most two in a 

 place, before they commence to run. 



Cultivation. — Watermelons are usually cultivated astride the 

 row with a regular two-horse corn cultivator. If the entire field 

 has been plowed previous to planting, the space between the rows 

 also is cultivated with the same tool, and tillage is given in both 

 directions. If only a narrow strip has been plowed for each row, 

 the tillage between the rows consists principally in completing 

 the plowing of the field. For the last tillage close to the rows the 

 vines have to be turned. In some localities, the practice is to 



