l66 MAKING HORTICULTURE PAY 



up the outside of the house, and in cold weather 

 cover the roof with straw." 



CANTALOUPES AND WATERMELONS 



A warm, sandy soil made rich with stable 

 manure, thoroughly composted, is generally con- 

 sidered the genial home of the cantaloupe, so far as 

 regards the production of a crop. But quality is 

 quite as important a consideration as quantity. To 

 produce a large crop is an easy matter, but to pro- 

 duce melons of high flavor is an art that has never 

 been taught. Whence comes that high flavor pe- 

 culiar to melons produced in a given section and 

 not in another, although not far distant, is a mys- 

 tery. We know such is the case with all vegetables 

 and fruits, but why we cannot determine. 



As the melon is a sub-tropical fruit, requiring a 

 warm situation and a rich soil, it should ever have 

 the most sunny as well as the most airy situation, 

 and be given every facility for growth possible. 

 In the preparation of the soil haste is not essential, 

 as the seed should not be sown before the middle 

 of May. The soil, when in condition. for the most 

 thorough tilth, should be covered to the depth of 2 

 inches with stable manure, thoroughly composted. 

 Work this in as evenly as possible to the depth of 

 a foot, then mark it out in squares of 6 feet ; at the 

 angle of each, dig a hole 1 foot deep and 18 inches 

 in diameter. Put in additional manure to the depth 

 of 4 inches, after being thoroughly packed down, 

 fill the hole with the soil thrown out and raise the 

 hill to the height of 2 inches above the level. When 

 the hills are all prepared, plant in each, say, ten 

 seeds, well scattered, and cover to the depth of half 

 an inch. 



