GROWING CANTALOUPES 
Plant 2 lbs. per acre in drills or 1 lb. if hand planted in hills.. 
The land should be a sandy loam, avoiding both too sandy and too 
heavy soil. 
It possible, do not plant where cantaloupes were grown previously 
within three or lour years. 
A heavy oat stubble plowed under is one of the hrst locations. Bean 
land is usually very good. The first year after alfalfa or clover is not 
good os a rule. The melons grow too soft and are irregular in size, shape, 
netting and quality. The second year after alfalfa or clover is usually very 
good. 
Fall plowing is best, followed in the spring with several discings. 
If planted in hills the rows should be 5 to 6 feet apart each way. Cross 
cultivating improves the yield, quality and earliness. 
Plant ten to twelve seeds to the hill about 2 inches deep and thin to 
one or two plants when they have 5 or 6 leaves. 
If drilled in rows 5 to 6 feet apart thin to one plant every 3 or 4 feet. 
Hoe carefully around the plants; keep free from weeds and cultivate 
often. 
We have foimd 8 or 10 cultivations at least should be given and more 
would be better. 
After the vines reach so far across the row that you con no longer cul¬ 
tivate, the ends of the vines should be carefully turned back and an addi¬ 
tional cultivation given. A knife attached to a one-horse cultivator is best 
for this. 
Cultivate shallow close to the plants and deeper farther away. 
The main spread of roots is on the harder ground under the plowed 
ground. If you plow only 3 or 4 inches deep that will determine the depth 
to the main spreading roots and very shallow cultivating will be necessary 
or the crop will be ruined, while if you plow 7 or 8 inches deep you can 
cultivate 5 or 6 inches deep to good advantage. Don't expect on average 
good crop from too shallow plowing. 
If under irrigation, cantaloupes should be watered regularly about 
every two weeks. Early in the season furrows should be close to thei 
plants and water should be allowed to run just long enough to moisten 
the soil beyond the plant row. Later furrows may be farther away from 
the plants. Do not allow the water to remain in the furrows too long so 
that the soil becomes water-logged. Continue irrigating through the ripen¬ 
ing season to keep the vines thrifty. 
CONTROLLING INSECTS 
The controlling of insects on your cantaloupe crops will ^ increase your 
profits. If pests ore allowed to multiply unhampered, entire fields are often 
ruined. The striped cucumber beetle and aphis are the cantaloupe's worst 
enemies. Turn to page 97 and you will find some suggestions as to killing 
them. 
CONTROLLING CANTALOUPE WORMS—Write us for Suggestions 
40 
D. V. Burrell Seed Growers Co., Rocky Ford, Colo. 
