187 VINE OR 



' CUCURBITOUS CROPS 



Melons are planted in hills from four by five 

 to four by six feet apart, according to whether 

 early or main-season crop. The early crop may 

 be planted a Uttle closer than the main crop, 

 and is in the field two or three weeks ahead. 

 The quantity of seed is about the same as that 

 used for cucmnber planting and the same treat- 

 ment is necessary. There are about 1185 hills 

 to an acre, and two or three good fruits to each 

 plant is a good yield. The most important 

 varieties are the cantaloupes, which have hard, 

 warty rinds, and are little grown in this country; 

 the nutmeg or netted type, extensively grown 

 here, and the winter melons, which ripen late 

 in the season and are as yet little known here. 

 The leading varieties to be found in the Ameri- 

 can market, are Rocky Ford, Osage, Montreal 

 Market and Hackensack, but the melon is so 

 variable that only types, not varieties, are con- 

 stant. Diseases and insects are the same as in 

 cucumber. 



WATERMELON. 



Watermelons are even more uncertain than 

 muskmelons, because of their need of a long, 

 warm season; therefore, they are but little 

 grown in the northernmost States, except a few 

 varieties which will ripen as far north as southern 



