Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-20
CULTURE OF THE NUTMEG MELON.

The melon will adapt itself TO variety OF
soils, but If possible, it will select a warm,
sandy loan, with a southern exposure.
| New land, or sod land plowed in the fall, is
just the thing. If the fall preparation has
been neglected, get at il as soon as the
spring opens, and make deep and thorough
work Of the blowing and pulverization. Ap-
ply well rotted barnyard manure broadcast
if the soil is not naturally rich There will
be time enough for two or three plowings
before planting. This is our first axiom
thorough preparation before planting. No
one ougat TO expect success without this. 4
The rows should be marked out both
ways, from six to eight feet apart. Our
practice is, II seed is plenty, 10 put fifteen
or twenty seeds in hill, TO provide against
loss, but finally, when they have taken on
the rough leaves, we thin TO about three
plants to the hill. About this time a
sprinkling of guano, or superphosphates, if
you can get good article, about the hill,
will cause the plants to push rapidly, and
will considerably increase the product.
We have invariably found that early
paintings do the best, although the danger
of losing plants is considerable; but always
having abundance of seed, we do not stop
for this, and commence planting out Of
doors soon after the first Of April. Our
earliest paintings, of course, are made in
the hot bed or cold frame, say three or four
weeks before it would be safe to set out of
doors.
notice that Mr.. Henderson and other
good authorities recommend planting on
sod. We used to do this, but do so no
more. There are at least two other meth
DDS that succeed better. Plant in the rich
earth of the hot bed, and when the time
has come to set them in the open ground,
you are provided with tin cutters, some
eight inches in diameter, with which, after
thorough watering, yeu cut out the melon
hills Gas the housewife cuts out her biscuit)
and carry them on a shovel to the place Of
setting near by. This is far better than the
sod, but there is a better practice still.
Plant in rich earth, in strawberry boxes,
and at the right time plant box and all.
Ifyou mean to grow melons for the mar
ket, it is important TO start as early as pos
sible; but from necessity, our main planting
is in open ground. After planting, the
mole is apt to plow through the ground
and ruin the crop. | know no better way,
if you cannot catch Mr.. Mole, than to plow
as closely TO the hill as you can on each
side, throwing the furrow away from the
hill. When the plants are up, the striped
bug is almost sure to go for them, and it
takes but a few hours to utterly destroy
every plant, when they come n force, as
they are accustomed to do. But Paris
green, mixed with 20 parts of flour or plas-
ter, has never failed with me to stop their
ravages.
Years ago we were trying all varieties;
now we plant but two sorts, and that about
in the proportion of ten to one. We plant
ten acres of the Alton Nutmeg and one of
Long Persian, which is the CdSGba of the
catalogues. The latter is late melon, and
one that like to eat; but its shape being
long, it does not take in the market except
where well known. II l knew of anything
better than these which have named, l
would certainly find place for them.
Our melons usually commence ripening
sbut the last Of July, from the outdoor
paintings, andI have known them to con-
tinue to hold on till the middle of October.
l have grown 1000 melons to the acre, and
sold them for about $500; but this is mora
money than you can ordinarily get for an
acre of melons. We ship in 2-bushel crates,
holding from Is to "a to a crate. The
highest price we ever received was $40 per
crate of two doZen-the lowest price just
about nothing at ali; but ordinarily the
crop pays moderately well, and for five years
has been specially on the Hill farm, and is
likely TO so continue. o. l.. BARLER.
Madison County, H., Feb. 10.