THE CANTALOUPE. 
BY II. II. GRIFFIN. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The Arkansas Valley of Colorado lias for some years 
been famous for its cantaloupes. 
During the season of 1900 , 780 cars were shipped, which 
represents the product from about 2,500 acres. 
The cantaloupe is known as the “Rocky Ford” from 
the town that has led in the industry. The variety grown 
is the Netted Gem, which Burpee claims to have the distinc¬ 
tion of originating. Through environment it has become so 
perfected in the vicinity of Rocky Ford as to be unsurpassed 
in quality, and needs only to be introduced in any market to 
at once take possession of it. 
The melon plant is of rank growth and succulent tissue. 
It thrives best under conditions of high temperature, dry air, 
and continuous sunshine, and a deep, warm, sandy loam soil. 
It is as delicate in constitution as in texture. It does not 
adapt itself readily to varying conditions nor to sudden cli¬ 
matic changes, and its tissue offers little resistance to the 
attacks of fungi. 
CULTIVATION. 
Were it not that there are many amateurs growing this 
crop, owing to the rapid settling of the lands in the Arkan¬ 
sas valley of Colorado, this bulletin need not deal with this 
phase of the subject. 
The first planting is done from the first to the tenth of 
May; seldom any advantage is gained by putting the seed in 
earlier than May 1st. The land is put in good condition by 
rather deep plowing, harrowing and leveling. Furrows are 
then run with a shovel plow from 6 to 7 feet apart and the 
seed planted by the side of the furrow, making the hills 
from 5 to 6 feet apart in the rows. Uniformity of planting 
facilitates cultivation, as for a considerable time the field 
may be cultivated in both directions. Care must be exer¬ 
cised not to plant the seed too deep. The depth should not 
exceed one inch. 
Some growers irrigate the furrows and plant afterwards,’ 
while others plant and then irrigate, permitting the water to 
reach the seed by percolation. I prefer subirrigation to 
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