Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-05-04
Aaritnltnr0l.
The Surest mode Of GrOwIng MelOns.


than The facility with which, in almost every
mart of the United States, melons are grown
TO 90 into the markets Of New York or Phlla-
delphia, in tho month Of August, and SEQ not
only the markets filled with melons, Of delicious
quality, and sold nj u few cents each' but besides
those countless sloop.loads, lying al the wharls'
and wagon.oads, standing in the streets; all this
gives him the impression of havngarrYed IN
tropical, instead Of a temperate climate In
fact, our summers are as warm as those OF the
,ropcs; aud all fruits or vegetables which de-
mand only few mcnlhs Of growth 10 arrive at
perfection, succeed admirably in all but one or
two of the coldest Of the eastern states.
There are two little obstacles, however, 10 the
easy culture Of the melon 10 some paris ol the
country. The first, is the strtped-bug, which
makes its appearance along with the first TWO
leaves Of the young plant, aud devours them
sometimes in twnkng; so that, not unIre'
ouenly, il is necessary to SOW the seed TWO or
three times over to get a regular crop under way.
The second, is The shorness oil the summers
north of New York, which makes the melon
crop, grown in the open ground rather faier
than is desirable.
To guard againstbolh these obstacles, wo have
found The following simple method, (Which Is
pot new TO us,) so excellent, aud so certain, that
we gladly recommend il to our readers who Ind
their melon crop unsatisfactory, from either Ol
the two causes pointed out.
Provide Yourself with couple of common
bot.beJ sashes. Choose u sheltered spot, in IN
oman SUNNY aspect. Take two or three boards,
about eight or Ten inches wide, and, laying your
sashes on the ground side by slde mark their
size on the suriace Of the soil, Then make
frame, Tor bouomoss box,) by mailing four pie.
ces of board together, so that tho sashcs VIII
ms, cover the frame. Sc, the franc on tho sur
face Of the ground, the front (Which laces The
soulh,O trillJ lower than the back, so that the
water will run of the glass. Level The surface
of the soil inside the franc.
This frame should bo made ready adoCt the
time YOU would plant melons in the open ground
say, in this climate, about the first OF May.
(If YOU desire an early crop, you may conf
mence ten days sooner)
The crame is intended, first, TO start the mel
ons with little more shelter Than the open AR;
and second, to guard them against the striped
bug. iill lhey ure past the danger oil It's attack;
thai is, ill they have made two rough leaves,
when the insect seldom troubles them.
No manure is needed; aud, consequently,
searcely anv of tho trouble of Il hot-bed; none
of tho careful watching, and regular attention,
which n hot.bed demands earlier in tho season.
In order to be able toremove lheyoung plants
n, the proper time, from the frame TO Tho open
hills where they are to grow, the seeds must be
sown on sods. This is NJ once The cheapest and
the bes. of all modes of raising seedlings, to bC
,yanspIanled; because tho planting IN sod - Ia
ken up aud replanIed with all the roots upon II
which are not IN the least disturbed.
Choose any mellow piece OF turf, and cut The
aods in unilormpeces, six inchessquare and two
or three inches thick. LOy these squares o
sod side by side, with the grass sldo downwards
.o az to cover the suriuce Of the soil inside iht
frame. They should, 10 facilitate alter reno
val be placed ubou. half an inch apart, so as II
be Inc more easily detached by.and.by. Next
cover them about an inch and Il half deep, will
some of the richest garden solalyour command
Then take a stick and make lines on the surface
Of the soil, exactly corresponding 10 the square
of the sods below the soil. This will tell yoI
exactly where 10 plam the seeds.
As every one Of these litllo squares OF sod
will form one hill of melons when transplanted
SOW The seeds in the soil which covers them nc
cordingly; that's, plan, six or eight seeds
each square, and then thin out, whsn tho plant
form their rough leaves, to four plants.
We have said that no manure OF bottom heI
is necessary. Tho warmth Of the sun, indeed
is such that, in bright days, you will have
open the frames for couple OF hours or mort
in order no, to bring the plants on too rapid!
keeping them covered III night, and in all unit
yorabIe weather.
About The 20lh Of May, or as soon MS II
plants havo formed two strong rough leaves, al
Inc season IS become warm and settled, prepa
the hills thoroughly, where the melons are
grow, by manurng and ,renching them deepl
Choose a moist dav; and commencing on o
side of the frame, slip the blade Of the pade
u1nsplsn,ing uowe under one Of the squares
sod. As you raise il up, place your hand unI
il. and YOU will find that il can bo lifted up a
carried 10 any part Of the garden, without in
Ieas, disturbing the roofs Of The plants. n
ouen the surface Of The hill, and plant The S
watering il gently, and drawing The earth aroI
the young plants. Ii done with even iolera
eleyerness, they will not feel the removal in
lsasl, Though melons are quite susceptible
,heiY roofs, and often fail entirely on turn
them out Of po,s.) The sod itself gradually
c1mpo ,es, furnishing excellent soil for tho roc
Tho plants should have been previously ?
pared for the open air, by gradually expos
them 10 The weather day aud night, Ceav
them uncovered with glas',) for few days p
vious TO The removal.
We find no difficulty whatever with the 5
ped.bup, in this mode Of growing melons. I
Giants are KEEP. covered for tho greater part