1 Dec., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 479 
HOW TO GROW MELONS. 
Menons will grow after a fashion on most soils. The pie-melon grows in 
almost pure sand in many parts of the sea-coast of Queensland. But a fairly 
rich loamy soil resting on a stiff subsoil is about the best suited to its nature. 
‘A soil that bakes on the surface and retains much moisture is unsuitable. 
Very fine melons, both of the rock, water, sugar, and champagne varieties are 
grown in quantities on our light serub soils. 
As the vines begin to run, it will be noticed that they do so with greater 
rapidity, and the runners Jook most healthy and succulent, when they make 
their way over some particularly rich patch or overa manure heap. The reason 
for this is, that the rootlets emanating from the vines find their way into the 
rich humus and extract nourishment which is thus conveyed direct to the 
young vine. It is the same with pumpkins and cucumbers. Hence when 
preparing for melon-sowing it is always well to spread a light coating of farm- 
yard manure over the soil the vines will probably cover. When sowing, the 
seed should not be covered more than an inch beneath the surface. In dry 
weather plentiful watering should be given to the vines, but no stagnant water 
must lie about the roots, or the plants will not thrive. Melons of enormous 
size may be seen in cartloads in Queensland towns during the season. It does 
not follow, however, that the largest melons are the best; indeed, they are 
often very watery and insipid. 
The great charm of the water-melon is the crispness of the interior mass, 
and the denser this is and the thinner the inner covering between the rind and 
it, the better the melon. This crispness and sweetness are more often found 
in the smaller varieties than in those of abnormal growth. 
To secure rich and high flavour the fruit should be kept free from moisture 
by rain or any other water from the time it begins to shape for ripening. As 
the lateral branches show fruit they should be stopped back, and the secondary 
laterals should also be pinched back to the fruit. 
Tn the March number (1898) of the Journal we gave directions for 
growing large melons which are worth attention, 
There are several ways of telling when a melon is ripe. One is by the 
barbarous and ruinous method adopted by some ignoramuses of cutting out 
a small square piece as in trying a cheese with a cheese-taster. This, of 
course, destroys the fruit very shortly. Another is by squeezing the melon, 
and if aslight cracking sound is heard it is probably ripe. This plan is, 
however, somewhat injurious if the fruit has to be kept for any length of 
time. 
The better way is to notice the colour of the surface resting on the ground. 
If this is of a rough yellowish colour the melon is ripe. The test applied to 
thespumpkin of pressing the finger-nail into the lower yellow side is also a 
guide. 
The most infallible test is this: Tap the melon with the knuckles, and if 
a hollow, drum-like sound is heard the melon is certain to be ripe. To gain 
experience in this method, it only needs that an unripe melon and one known 
to be ripe be sounded, and the difference will be at once perceived. 
Cobb’s Gem, Cuban Queen, and Dixie are good varieties of the water- 
melon. Skillman’s Netted, Large Persian, and Large Nutmeg are amongst the 
best of the rock or musk melons. 
AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
Tne Editor will be glad if the secretaries of Agricultural and other Societies 
will, as early as possible after the fixture of their respective shows, notify him 
of the date, and also of any change in date which may have been decided on. 
