36 4 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
raised under glass. The crop should never be started in 
the open until danger of frost is past. The arid regions 
of the West, as Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico, pro- 
duce, under irrigation, melons of excellent quality which 
command high prices on the eastern markets. While 
climatic conditions of the West are considered unusually 
favorable, eastern growers have the advantage by theii 
close proximity to the markets. By allowing their 
melons to ripen on the vines before marketing, they 
secure as good quality and are enabled to compete suc- 
cessfully with the West. Irrigation or a liberal rain- 
fall is essential wherever the crop is grown. 
510. Soil. — The character of the soil is probably sec- 
ondary in importance to climatic conditions. Musk- 
melons may be grown in any soil skillfully handled. 
Sandy types, however, have the preference because they 
produce an earlier crop, and are easier to cultivate than 
heavy ones. It is believed that the quality of the fruit 
ranges higher when grown on the lighter soils. Never- 
theless, clay and silt loams are often used in the culture 
of this crop and growers who are farming these lands 
believe their melons are of superior quality. But the 
largest areas in the United States are on sandy soils. 
The structure of the soil is just as important as the 
texture. When proper additions of vegetable matter are 
made to clay lands, they often produce excellent results. 
New land is considered especially desirable. In any soil 
a constant and fairly liberal amount of moisture is im- 
portant throughout the season. Drouth or insufficient 
soil moisture invariably results in a weak vine growth 
and in small fruits of inferior quality. Thorough drain- 
age is also important. Alkali lands should be avoided, 
as they are said to produce melons of comparatively low 
quality. 
51 1. Seed. — Practically all of our muskmelon seed is 
produced in the United States. Large amounts are 
