CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
373 
the boxes sloping slightly to the south and the east. 
After the plants have come up care should be taken in 
ventilating. The general practice of some growers is to 
remove the box in the forenoon, and in the afternoon to 
replace it. Others simply pull the glass out a 
few inches. The latter method seems to be better, for 
the reason that the plant gets plenty of air and at the 
same time is protected from the cool and hard winds 
that are likely to blow during the day. The boxes 
are removed after all danger of frost is over. The 
plants should be hardened before the boxes are 
removed.” 
516. Cultivation. — Cultivation must be shallow, fre- 
quent and thorough. The ground should not be allowed 
to bake as long as it is possible to get between the rows 
with a cultivator. Many growers shift the vines when 
they attain considerable size, and continue tillage until 
the crop is well advanced. More or less hand hoeing is 
necessary during the entire period of growth. 
517. Marketing. — The time of picking depends mainly 
upon the distance from market. If to be sold locally, 
the melons should be allowed to ripen fully on the vine. 
When for distant shipment, the usual plan is to pick the 
fruit when it will separate readily from the stem, which 
should be left attached tc the vine. Cracking about the 
stem on the Gem type of melons indicates that ripening 
is in progress and that the fruit will part readily from 
the vine. While melons are often pulled before they 
have reached this point, it is always done at the sacri- 
fice of quality. Considerable experience is required to 
decide just when each melon is ready for market, espe- 
cially if an attempt is made to pick them before they 
have changed to the characteristic gray color desired by 
all markets. To secure uniformity of ripeness the plan- 
tation should be picked over every day. 
A great many growers do not grade their melons. 
