234 TRUCK-FARMING AT THE SOUTH. 



of the second or even of the third planting ; otherwise, 

 as soon as the first has made two rough leaves, and the 

 others are up, the top of the hill should be stirred by a 

 hand-weeder, or other hand implement, or by the fingers ; 

 and the loose soil drawn to the stems up to the seed- 

 leaves, at the same time thinning the plants to a couple, 

 of each sowing, or even to less, if they crowd each other. 

 Of course, the strongest, healthiest looking plants are to 

 be left. It is sometimes the case that plants from the sec- 

 ond sowing are more advanced than those from the first, 

 when all of the latter should be removed. To stir the 

 soil and destroy young weeds, the cultivator or horse-hoe 

 is run in both directions over the whole surface, and as 

 near the hills as possible without disturbing them. They 

 should be thinned to a stand early enough to prevent 

 crowding, and the hills hoed about the time the plants 

 commence to "run," and the soil drawn well up to the 

 seed-leaves, great care being taken not to cover the leaves 

 or crown. Before the vines reach the edge of the hills, 

 two furrows should be thrown to each side of the row. 

 It requires careful plowing to throw the soil to the middle 

 with out disturbing the hills, which are only six feet apart. 

 This is done by depressing the right handle of the plow, 

 or pushing it inward to the rows as the plow reaches 

 each hill, and erecting it again in passing. Melon vines 

 should never be handled, if it can possibly be avoided, 

 and, therefore, as the vines cover the bed, and before 

 they extend beyond it, the plow is used repeatedly, un- 

 til the plants are left on wide beds separated by a wide 

 furrow. Before the second plowing, hoes should be care- 

 fully used around the hills and between the vines with- 

 out touching them rudely ; removing all weeds before 

 overlooked. Watermelons come into market from Florida 

 about the latter part of May; and from the vicinity 

 of Savannah and the adjacent Sea Islands, about July 

 1st. 



