372 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
Thinning should not be done until the plants are well 
started. The tendency is to allow fewer plants to the 
hill than formerly. It is doubtful whether more than 
two plants should ever be left. Crowding always de- 
creases the size of the melons. An experiment made in 
Georgia (Ga. Sta. Bui. 57, p. 177) shows the importance 
of severe thinning. The results were as follows: 
Average 
Marketable weight per melon Unmarketable 
"lbs. 
D 1at A, one plant to the hill 
1.09 
19 
Plat B, two plants to the hill 
116 
.98 
30 
Plat C, three plants to the hill 
86 
.99 
27 
Plat D, four plants to the hill 
47 
.79 
57 
One plant to the hill, it will be observed, yielded the 
largest melons and the smallest percentage of unmarket- 
able fruit. Two plants to the hill gave more marketable 
melons, but there was no real gain, as the melons were 
smaller and there was a larger percentage of unmarket- 
able fruit. Three and four plants to the hill gave fewer 
marketable melons and a larger percentage of unmar- 
ketable fruit ; the marketable melons were also smaller 
than in plats thinned to one plant to the hill. 
Forcing boxes have been profitably used in some sec- 
tions. They are especially popular in New Mexico, but 
probably possess even more merit in northern sections. 
The New Mexico station (New Mexico Station Bui. 63, 
p. 27) gives the following account of their construction 
and management : “These boxes may be made from inch 
lumber, 8 x 10 x 12-inch, with a groove for a 10 x 12- 
inch glass. The cantaloupe seed is planted in the field 
as earb as possible in the spring and the glass-covered 
boxes are placed over the hills; at the station the seed 
has been planted as early as March 25. 
“The seed soon germinates and the plants grow right 
along without being injured by the low night tempera- 
ture. If it can be so arranged, it is desirable to have 
