Planting, Culture and Harvesting Directions 
The cantaloupe thrives best on a well- 
drained sandy loam soil. Alfalfa sod, 
plowed under in the fall, has shown the 
best results in the West and Southwest, 
frequently doubling the yield. Clover sod 
in sections where it is grown, and cow 
peas in the South have shown like re- 
sults. Well-rotted barnyard manure has 
generally given better results than com- 
mercial fertilizers. The cantaloupe seems 
to produce better on a medium fertile 
soil. If too much fertilizer is used the 
vines grow very rank and the melons are 
likely to be over-sized and poorly netted, 
and flesh coarse and of poor quality. If 
planted on poor soil the melons are un- 
dersized and yield generally light. The 
size of the melon is undoubtedly govern- 
ed by the fertility of the soil, as well as 
by climatic conditions. Crop rotation is 
essential to retain the necessary plant 
food, and is a safeguard against disease, 
infected soil and insect pests. 
In preparing the soil, ever bear in mind 
that the cantaloupe should be planted 
and cultivated as a garden crop rather 
than a field crop, as IT WILL NOT RES- 
POND readily to the rough treatment us- 
ually given to general field crops. The 
grower will be well repaid for the extra 
labor and time consumed in the thor- 
ough preparation of the soil. 
Select, if possible, suitable land, slop- 
ing to the south or east. Such land, 
warms up quickly in the early spring and 
is preferable where an early crop is de- 
sired. 
If plowing is done in the fall, plow 
from 8 to 10 inches in depth; if in the 
spring plow only as deep as the land has 
been plowed before. When plowing under 
alfalfa and like crops, fall plowing is the 
best and under most conditions shows 
best results. In irrigated districts, if the 
land is dry, irrigate by flooding before 
plowing, using care not to plow while 
land is wet, nor yet too dry; for either 
will prevent reducing the soil to the 
mellow, ashy condition so essential to 
the best results and the easy cultivation 
of the crop. If the land was in cultiva- 
tion the previous year, discing is very 
beneficial, as it not only mixes any com- 
post or manure that may have been ap- 
plied, but insures a deep pulverized seed 
bed. 
The land should be prepared and al- 
lowed to settle a few days before plant- 
ing. If crop is to be grown by irrigation, 
select slope of the land so that it can be 
irrigated without washing or flooding. 
Do not plant near any other vine crop. 
Do not plant more than one season in 
succession on the same soil. Plant sas 
soon as danger of frost is past. When the 
plant has from five to six leaves and dan- 
ger from beetles is past, thin to one 
plant about two feet apart. Thinning 
should be governed by strength of the 
soil. If the plants are left too thick on 
rather poor soil, many of the melons will 
likely be small; on the other hand, if 
thinned too closely on rich soil, over- 
sized melons will be the result. 
Give frequent shallow cultivation as 
long as possible to get between the rows 
without disturbing the vines or roots. 
Keep a fine dust mulch to aid in retain- 
ing moisture. The cantaloupe, to produce 
best results, should have a continuous 
healthy growth. The slightest check or 
setback in the growth will retard the 
early development and reduce the yield. 
The cantaloupe begins ripening on the 
inside. When ripening process begins it 
requires some experience to tell from the 
outward appearance when it is ready to 
pick, the change being so slight that the 
inexperienced will scarcely detect it. The 
skin between the netting gradually as- 
sumes a peculiar gray cast; the netting 
becomes more prominent and of a silvery 
whitish color. On close examination a 
slight crack about the stem will be 
found, and with a little pressure on the 
stem with the thumb or forefinger it 
should part or slip from the melon with- 
out breaking the stem or melon, leaving 
a smooth, natural cup where detached. 
When picked at this, the proper stage, 
the melon has its natural sweetness and 
flavor, and if carefully handled, with 
proper refrigeration and good transpor- 
tation service, will carry to most any 
market in first-class condition. The stem 
will not slip from a green melon, but will 
break or force a piece out of the melon, 
and if picked in this manner are likely 
to be of inferior quality, without flavor, 
and show up in a wilted, spongy condi- 
tion on the market. 
The picking should start early in the 
morning while the melons are cool, yet 
in case the vines are wet from heavy 
dews or rains, it is not advisable to start 
picking before vines are fairly dry, as 
tramping and handling when wet is in- 
jurious to the vines and melons picked 
and handled while wet lose much of 
their fine appearance, being more or less 
covered with. mud, and the netting be- 
comes badly ruffled. 
a 
Rocky Ford, Colorado 
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