22 MARKET GARDENERS’ SEED STORE 
GROWING MUSK MELONS OR CANTALOUPES 
Plant 3 lbs. per acre in drills or 1 lb. if hand planted in hills. The land should be 
a sandy loam, do 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 second year after alfalfa or clover is real 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. 
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 ripen- 
ing season to keep the vines thrifty. 
Market only good melons. 
Don’t pick cantaloupes green. 
Don’t pick cantaloupes from rusted vines. 
Don’t pick cantaloupes from aphis covered vines. 
Don’t buy cheap seed. Your crop costs about fifty dollars per acre, and often 
more, considering rental of land, before you begin to pick, and poor seed may cut the 
value of the crop in two and even more. Four to six dollars per acre for the best 
seeds is small compared with other costs. Buy the best seed. 
MUSK MELON 
Oz. 1% Ib. 1 Lh. 
Pride of Wisconsin, 88 days. A recent introduction which is sell- 
ing in many sections. In appearance it most resembles 
Sugar Rock. Slightly oval, with a heavy coarse netting. It 
has very thick salmon flesh and a very small seed cavity. 
It is so full of sugar that it tends to split open if left on 
the ground after slipping from the vine.................. $0.15 $0.40 $1.50 
