18 The Colorado Experiment Station. 
greatly lessens the danger from disease which may destroy the 
whole crop within two or three days. 
In addition to being forced in greenhouses, lettuce can be 
grown to maturity in hotbeds. Both hotbeds and cold frames can 
be used to advantage for bringing lettuce to maturity in the fall or 
early winter and for starting them early in the spring. 
MUSICMELON. 
Under the term “muskmelon” is included a number of types 
of melons. The most common of these are the ordinary musk¬ 
melon, characterized by a large seed cavity, distinct ribs, and a sur¬ 
face more or less free from netting, and the cantaloupe, an ideal 
specimen of which has a small seed cavity and a heavily netted sur¬ 
face, showing no ribs at all. Much effort has been expended to¬ 
ward perfecting the latter type at Rocky Ford in this state. The 
Rocky Ford section and the type of melon grown there are well 
known throughout the country. 
Climate end Soil .—The muskmelon is naturally a tropical 
plant and requires a long, warm season for its best development. 
For this reason we cannot expect to produce as profitable a crop in 
the northern part of the state as at Rocky Ford, but some should 
be grown for home use. A warm, sandy loam is the best soil for 
growing cantaloupes. Such land on which alfalfa has grown for 
one or two years is probably the ideal in this climate. The soil 
should be in the best of tilth and should be well, but not too heav¬ 
ily fertilized with stable manure. 
Planting .—Rows are laid off six feet apart each way and eight 
to ten seeds planted at each intersection. The seed are covered to 
a depth of about one inch. They may be planted either by hand 
or with one of the many types of planters. After planting it may 
be necessary to irrigate in order to cause the seed to germinate. 
If this is the case, the water should be run in furrows parallel to 
the rows and four to six inches from it. By this method, the water 
soaks through to the seed, but leaves the surface above the seed 
dry. If the soil over the hills should become dry and crusted be¬ 
fore the seed germinate, it should be raked with a garden rake in 
order to allow the young plants to come through more easily. 
Cultivation .—Thorough and frequent cultivation should be 
given. During the early stages of the crop the ground is stirred 
rather deeply and close to the plants, but as the vines spread, the 
cultivation should be more shallow and further away from the 
plant. Light, frequent irrigations have proven to be of more ad¬ 
vantage than heavy soakings given at considerable intervals. 
Picking .—Muskmelons are said to have three stages in three 
