P. H. Gilbert, Monticello, Florida 
35 
Watermelon Culture 
Select sandy loam soil, prepare the land by 
breaking flush, using judgment as to the depth 
to plow. If porous sandy soil plow as shallow 
as can, and do the work well; if loam with clay 
subsoil plow deep, and if the land is not un¬ 
usually rough, do not harrow, leaving it rough 
in reason for the vines to cling in case of wind 
storms. Where land is level and can be cul¬ 
tivated two ways, check in rows 10x10 feet, 
merely marking one way. but good deep furrow 
the other way, that the fertilizer will be well 
covered. Use 700 pounds fertilizer per acre, 
analyzing about 8 per cent phosphoric acid, 6 
per cent potash, 6 per cent ammonia, preferably 
made from nitrate of soda, cotton seed meal, 
dried blood, superphosphate, muriate and sul¬ 
phate of potash. Better results to use two ap¬ 
plications, applying about two-thirds the amount 
before planting, arid balance as the vines begin 
to run. On land that will not permit cultivating 
two ways, suggest to lay off rows 12 feet apart, 
use a distributor and put the fertilizer all 
along, and plant the seed 8 feet apart in drill, 
and after the plants are strong, thin to one in 
each hill, cultivate shallow and fast. There is 
no particular method of cultivation that is much 
the best, simply keep the weeds and grass from 
appearing by constantly stirring the soil, and 
it is not well to turn the vines, not that it will 
greatly injure the plant, but sure to delay 
setting of fruit. Never plant same land two 
years in succession to watermelons. 
