OR 
187 VINE 
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 little 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 cucumber 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 
