Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-22
wATERMELONS.
From the Mobile Register


Light, sandy soil, with dry sub-soil, is
the best for watermelOns. New ground,
free from grasses, is decidedly the most re-
liable for full and unfailing crop. They
may be put into almost any kind Of land,
but it would generally be at the risk of par
tial or complete failure. l have grown
them on every variety of soil, from the poor
hilltop to the rich branch-bottom.
The land should be thoroughly broken
up by blowing close and deep-if sub
sOiled, all the better. The manure should
be spread, or sOwn broadcast, Immediately
before the breaking, or, at least, before the
first blowing Of the crop. The land should
be made sufficiently rich TO produce sixty
bushels of corn to the acre. If large mel
ons are desired, check Off the ground TWEEN
ty feet each way; if to be planted early,
make your hills about two feet in diameter,
and raise them six or eight inches above the
common level if to be planted
late in spring, after all cool and
ungenial weather is over, make the hills fiat,
but little, if any, above the level. By
reducing the distance between the hills to
six or eight, or even ten feet, the size of the
melons will be reduced One-half or more,
but the number per acre will be largely in
creased.
Plant six or eight feet to the hill. When
turning off the sixth leaf thin to two plants.
Now plOw and hoe your corn. Run the
bar of your plow next the plants, turning
the dirt from them. If you have not pre-
YiOHsly MANFRED, do it now, sowing broad
cast and blowing out the middles. Leave
the water furIOws (last furrOws) very deep,
even though yeu must run through them
several times with your plow to accom-
plish the object. And you must keep them
open throughout the season.
In ten or fifteen days after first blowing
you must crOss-plow, leaving the water fur
rows deeply opened as before. Hoe and
clean the plants. When the vines have run
two feet or more, place a light hOeful Of dirt
on each near the end. This is to keep them
from being blown about and twisted and
damaged by the wind.
Continue to plow every twelve or fifteen
days until the vines are near meeting; but
in no case, under no circumstances, allow
the vines TO be moved. If the land be
grassy, better let the grass grow than to
move the vines, for moving will destroy your
melons. In cultivating with the ploW, keep
sufficiently far off from the hill so as not to
touch the ends Of your vines.
By following the above method l have
produced melons weighing siXty-tive
pounds each from seed Of the common va
rieties.
OF manures pure Peruvian guanO has
given me the most satisfactory results. l
have used various commercial fertilizers, as
cotton seed meal, bone dust, ETC., with
ashes and common salt. One sack Of salt
added to the manure for an acre, has
always resulted in a production Of the
sweetest and highest favored melons have
ever made. do not doubt but the Lang
don Fertilizer is the very best, indeed
special manure for the watermelon.
or varieties, until lately, 1 have consider
ed the Mountain Sweet at the head Of the
list. Year before last Col. James Craw-
ford. of the firm OF Messrs. Crawford, Walsh,
Smith & Co., presented me with few
watermelon seeds be had saved in the course
of bis travels that summer, and from them
raised two melons only. With the seed Of
these / planted last year, and succeeded in
making supply for this season. l have
christened it the Crawford Melon" and do
not hesitate tc pronounce it the very best
watermelon in our country. 1t is hardy,
prolific flesh crimsOn-Ted, exquisitely rich
and Gelicious-fOr a dessert melon it is with
out peer. l. DoNANAN.
hUSHLA, ALA.