
GROWING CANTALOUPES 
Plant 2 Ibs. per acre in drills or 1 Jb. if hand planted in hills 
1 oz. to 100 hills 
x The land should be a sandy loam, avoiding both too sandy and too 
heavy soil. lf “possible, doa not plant where cantaloupes were grown 
previously within three or four years. A heavy oat stubble plowed under 
is one of the first locations. Bean land is usually very good. The first 
year after alfalfa or clover is not good as a rule because 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 found 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 can no longer 
cultivate, the ends of the vines should be carefully turned back and an 
additional 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 8 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 
an 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 the 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 
ripening season to keep the vines thrifty. 
CONTROLLING INSECTS 
The controlling of insects cn your cantaloupe crops will increase 
your profits.. If pests are allowed to multiply unhampered, entire 
fields are often ruined. The striped cucumber beetle and aphis 
are the cantaloupe’s worst enemies. Turn to page 87 and you 
will find some suggestions as to killing them. 
CONTROLLING CANTALOUPE WORMS—Write us for Suggestions 
OUR SUGGESTIONS REGARDING THE VARIETIES 
TO PLANT 
CANTALOUPES FOR SHIPPING 
Our business has been closely associated with the cantaloupe 
industry since the first green fleshed Rocky Fords were shipped 
from our home town. Our catalog has carried the continued story 
of the improvement in varieties of shipping cantaloupes. As your 
Selection of the proper sort is of vital importance, we offer the 
following suggestions. 
The Powdery Mildew Resistant No. 45 is without doubt capable 
of carrying to distant markets and arriving in better condition 
than any other cantaloupe. The 45 however is more subject to 
rust than the H. B.’s. In districts not subject to Powdery Mildew. 
the Improved H. B. No. 36 and Six Three will be found the most 
satisfactory crating sorts. For roadside market and bulk haul- 
ing in trucks or if an extremely large melon is required, use Bur- 
rell’s Jumbo H. B. Burrell’s Superfecto is excellent for late mar- 
pel aee well grown, leaves little to be desired in the way of 
quality. 
MELONS FOR LOCAL AND ROADSIDE MARKET 
We offer two outstanding new sorts which are absolutely tops 
in quality and substantial enough to market in good condition. 
Be sure to grow some of the Queen of Colorado and Schoon’s Hard 
Shell. Our Honey Rock is improved stock having a heavier net- 
ting and thicker flesh, especially favored in Michigan, Wisconsin, 
and Indiana. Pride of Wisconsin combines the delicate flavor of 
Honey Rock with better texture of flesh found in Hearts of Gold. 
The large round type or Morrill strain Hearts of Gold is probably 
the most popular for Michigan. Those wishing large melons pre- 
fer Original Jumbo H. B. and Schoon’s Hard-Shell. Cantaloupe and 
muskmelon are special items with us and we firmly believe that 
better seed than we have of these is not obtainable. 
Ce ee a a eee ee 
See page 90 for Special Prices to Market Growers 33 
