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to give too much tillage before planting. It is al- 

 ways considered a good practice to plow under a 

 crop of vetch, cow peas, or soy beans in preparation 

 for the melon crop. Such a plan increases the or- 

 ganic matter in the soil as well as the nitrogen con- 

 tent. The watermelon, like all other plants of its 

 family, is a heavy feeder and requires an abundance 

 of available plant food. 



The hills should be planted from eight to twelve 

 feet apart each way in check rows. A hole should be 

 made at the point where the hill is to be located 

 and a shovelful or two of well-rotted compost placed 

 in the bottom. A complete fertilizer should also be 

 used, analyzing approximately 3-8-10 or 3-6-8. This 

 should be mixed with the soil at the rate of about 

 one-half pound to the hill or applied with a drill 

 over the entire surface before planting. Care should 

 be taken that this fertilizer is thoroughly stirred 

 and incorporated with the soil, otherwise serious 

 injury may be done to germinating plants. 



An abundance of seed should be planted in order 

 that there may be a sufficient number of plants to 

 withstand the attacks of the cucumber beetle. From 

 15 to 20 seeds per hill will not be too many. Seeds 

 should be placed about xy2 inches deep. It is a 

 common practice to plant one-half the seed at one 

 time and the rest a week or ten days later. When 

 the plants begin to form three or four leaves, they 

 should be thinned to three or four plants to the hill, 

 and if not showing a rapid growth at this time 

 should be treated with a light dressing of nitrate 

 of soda. Constant cultivation with the horse cul- 

 tivators and the hoe should be kept up until the 

 vines begin to run. Some weed growth late in the 

 season is not generally considered detrimental as it 

 shades the fruit somewhat. Sometimes soy beans 



