The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-04-24
Agricultural.
cnlture Of ths Nutmeg.nelon.

Culture Of the Nutmeg Melon.
The melon viii adapt itself to a varie-
ty of soils. but, if possible. I would
select a warm, sandy loan, with a
southern exposure. New land, or sod
land plowed IN the fail, Is Just the
thing. II the fall preparation has been
neglected, get at it as soon as the spring
opens, and make deep and thorough
work Of the blowing and pulverization-
Apply well-rotted barn-yard manure
broadcast If the soil is not naturally
rich. There wiz be time enough for
two or three plowings before planting.
This is our first axiom: thorough pre-
paration before planting. No one
ought to expect success without this.
The rows should be marked out both
ways, from six to eight feet apart. Our
practice is, if seed is plenty, to put fif-
teen or twenty seeds in one hill, to pro-
vide 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 SUI
perphosphates, if you can get good
article, about the hill will cause the
plants to push rapidly, and Will consid-
erably increase the product. We have
invariably found that early paintings o
the best, although the danger of los
ing 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 hotbed or cold frame, say three
or four weeks before it would be safe to
set out of doors. 1 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 methods that
succeed better. Plant In the rich earth
of the hotbed, and when the time has
come to set them in the open ground
you are provided with the cutters, some
eight inches in. diameter, with which,
after thorough watering, you cut out
the melon hills, as 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 better practice still. Plant
in rich earth in strawberry boxes, and
ct the right time plant box and all. Ii
you mean to grow melons for the mar
ket, it is importhat to start as early as
possible; 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.
I know 40 better way, if you can not
catch Mr.. Mole, than to pillow 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, anG
it takes but few hours to utterly de
stroy every plant, when they come IL
force, as they are accustomed to do
But Paris green. mixed with twenty
parts of flonr or plaster, has never failed
with me to stop their ravages. Year
ago we we're trying ali varieties; nov
we plant but two sorts, and that abou
in proportion of ten to one. We plan
ten acres of the Alton Nutmeg and on
of Long Persian, which is the CdsabG o
the catalogues. The latter is a lat
melon, and one that like to eat; bu
its shape being long, it does not take i
the market except where well known
If knew of any thing better than thes
which have named, would certa1nl
find place for them. Our melons usu
ally commence ripening about the las
of July, from the outdoor paintings
and I have known them to continue t
hold on till the middle of October.
have grown 1000 melons to the acr
and sold them for about $500; but thi
is more money than you can ordinaril
get for an acre of melons. We ship
two-bushel crates, holding from eigl
teen to twenty-four to crate. Th
highest price we ever received was te
dollars per crate of two dozen; the low
est price, just about nothing at all br
ordinarily the crop pays moderated
well, and for five years has been a sp,
eialty ON the Hill Farm, and is ikel
so to continue.-O. L. Barter ia COtl
try Gentleman.