6 



of j\I;iich, if an early crop is wanted, and the young plants transplanted 

 into the open ground in April or May. In fact they should be treated 

 in all respects as we treat early cabbage plants. Place your rows three 

 feet apart, and set the plants two feet apart. Keep the ground well 

 cultivated and watch for the ealjLage worm. When it makes its ap- 

 pearance get a little insect po\\der and dust it over the plants; this 

 should kill the u<iriiis. After a time the plants will form large, fleshy, 

 white heads when they are ready for use. Xow compare these heads 

 with the cabbage head. You will notice that while the cabbage head 

 is made up of leaves, this is composed of fleshy flower stalks and un- 

 developed buds. This is only one of the many varieties of cabbage 

 which are grown by the market gardeners. 



Beans, musk melons and sweet corn may usually be planted during 

 the first week in May. None of these will hear any frost, so it is neces- 

 sary to wait until the soil has become quite warm before planting. 



Bean.':. — riant the beans three feet apart, and the hills one foot 

 aj)art, in the row. Write down in your note-books the date of plant- 

 ing, the date when the plants appeared above the ground, the date of 

 l)lossoniing, the date when the beans are large enough to use and the 

 date of ripening, if any are left to ripen. Xotice the difference, if there 

 b(^ any, between the beans and peas in their manner of getting out of 

 the ground. 



Musi- ilcliiny. — The hills for the musk melons should be about four 

 leet apart each way, as this variety does not make so large vines as 

 some of the others. Before planting the seeds, dig a hole about eight 

 inches deep, and put in a sho\'elful of well rotted barn manure; then 

 fover this with soil and plant the seeds, t-overing them an inch deep. 

 Press the soil down firmly with the hoe. After the plants are well up, 

 pull up all but three good, strong plants. These will make a better 

 growth and liear nicer fruit than if all were left to grow. Xow keep 

 a careful watch for a little striped beetle. The\- are verv fond of 

 melon and cucumber leaves, and if they get a chance will ruin them 

 liefore you are aware of it. You may be able to keep them off for a 

 time by making little boxes fight to ten inches scjuare and covering 

 them with cheese cloth, and placing these over the plants. The cheese 

 clotb will admit air and sunlight and at the same time will kee}i out 

 the insects. 



Keep a record of the numlier of melons grown on a si|uare rod; from 

 this you can figure the yield per acre. 



iMany people evei'v year get badly deceived in buying musk melons. 

 Tbey think a large, fine looking melon in a wagon, or at a store, must 



