76 



GAKDEKI^G FOR YOTOG AKD OLD. 



grow if necessary. If the land is rich enough, and you 

 keep it thoroughly cultivated and free from weeds, you 

 may expect a great crop of melons, and if you don't get 



it, try again. When 

 the vines commence 

 to run, the weeds also 

 begin to grow, and 

 you may think that 

 you can not get 

 through the rows 

 with a cultivator; 

 but by going ahead 

 of the horse, you may 

 move the vines out of 

 the way, and leave 

 plenty of room for 

 the horse and culti- 

 vator. Make thor- 

 ough work, going 

 twice in the row, or 

 as often as is neces- 

 sary to kill every 

 weed, and break up 

 the hard, dry soil. 

 Work it until it is as 

 mellow as a garden, 

 and if there are any 

 weeds left which you 

 can not reach with a 

 cultivator, cut them 

 out with a hoe, or 

 pull them by hand. 

 Watermelons may be planted in hills, and the land 

 prepared as recommended for cucumbers, except that it 

 is necessary to make the hills wider apart. The method, 

 however, of plowing the land into ridges, or hills, both 



