Bulletin 62. 
6 
tember 4 ; another three irrigations, June 30 , August 1 , and 
September 4 ; and a third plat one irrigation, July 10 . 
Heavy rains occurred in July, and considerable rain fell in 
August. 
The plat irrigated but once did not yield so heavily as 
the others; the vines and fruit were smaller, but the fruit 
was of better quality. The plats numbered one and two 
yielded about the same, and as far as could be judged, the 
quality was the same. Evidently, plat No. 1 received twice 
as much water as was necessary. 
FERTILIZERS. 
Virgin soils produce good melons both in quality and 
quantity, but fertilization is soon a necessity. Since fungus 
troubles have become annoying, it is not advisable to apply 
any heating manure to the soil just previous to growing 
cantaloupes, as it has a tendency to increase the trouble. 
A comparative trial in 1899 with melons grown on 
alfalfa sod, on cropped land manured with well rotted barn¬ 
yard manure in the hill, and on cropped land fertilized with 
bone dust in the hill, showed the best results from the 
alfalfa. The product was nearly doubled, the quality was 
better, and the ability to resist fungus troubles greater. 
Alfalfa sod brings maximum returns, and in turn the melon 
easily subdues the alfalfa and puts the land in splendid con¬ 
dition for succeeding crops. 
T R AN SPL AN TIN G. 
A test was made in 1899 to note to what extent hot bed 
propagation may hasten maturity and how successfully it 
may be performed. The seed was put in the hot beds April 
3 . Some of the seed was put in cans, so arranged that the 
plants could be taken from them without disturbing the 
roots, while others were put in the bed without any support. 
It was found quite difficult to transplant them when the 
roots were at all disturbed. Fully 95 per cent of those set 
from the cans grew, while only about 50 per cent of those 
taken from the bed without support survived. May 8 , the 
first plants were taken from the bed and set in the open 
field. The first seed planting in the open field was April 29 
and the second May 10 . 
The first ripe melon was taken from the transplanted 
vines August 17 , only one day earlier than melons grown on 
ground fertilized with alfalfa or manure, and only four 
days earlier than those grown without any fertilizer. 
