The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-06-16
CULTURE OF MELONS.

OF all the delicacies in the summer
the melon is moro welcomed than any
of the fruits Indigenous to cur climate
and desevedly so, not only on account
of being luxury, but for its beneficial
effects on the system. We receive them
by the thousands, and extra good ones
command high prices, with quick sales.
They are not grown TO perfection on
heavy clay soils. hut on light, sandy dry
locations they reach immense proper
,ions and ripcn early. But while melons
are grown more or less in all classes of
soils, and every one seems TO be familiar
with their cultivation, yet like every
thing else, there is right way, aud in
order to have them of fair size and good
quality il should be closely followed.
The same culture adapted to the
watermelon applies also to the musk
aud cantclope varieties. Strange TO say.
while melons are known to Us as being
almost entirely composed of wafer
they prefer very dry location, will not
thrive in wet situations, and the vines
endure drouth to a great degree. They
require plenty of room in which TO
grow, ten feet each way being 3ettr than
lesser distance. Many persons give
them hoeing two or three times dur
ing the season, and the vines are gently
removed or turned over TO facilitate
the process. This is great mistake,
as the vines should on no condition be
touched or removed. Not even are
they to be allowed TO be turned over by
the wind. and clod of dirt here and
there should be placed TO prevent it.
Nothing is more injurious TO melons
than the slightest disturbance of the
vines, and yet how often do we see
thoughticss gardeners walk at random
over field or patch of melons, disar-
ranging the vines and doing damage
that has no consideration because il is
not known.
In hoeing melons never work any
part of the hill that is covered by the
vines. but work before thcm-that is,
around the hill outside of the limit OF
growth already made by them. I;'grass
has secured stand in them, gently
pull it up, care being taken not TO dis
turb the vines more than is necessary
to clean them out. and all manure or
fertilizers should be applied before they
begin to "run' The best manure for i
them is that which has been thoroughly |
and completely rolled, or what is equal
~ as good, plenty of rich mould from
the forests. If fertilizers arc used. a
mixture Of equal parts of plaster, SUI
and murate of potash
is the best. They need but little nitro
gen, such rs guano, and yet they should
have that little Pinch back the ends of
Inc shoot after the young melons are
and if extra large ones are re-
lLired but two should be .ctt on the
vine.
Melons delight in hot days, and the
iercest rays of the sun, which are dam
yerous TO some plants, give the melon
vines renewed vigor. While they need
moisture and rain at certain intervals,
90 much of il is injurious to them.
The hot sands seems TO be necessary TO
heir growth 10 certain extent, which
5 no doubt owing more TO retention
# the heat by the sand than to what
t receives during the day. The seed
hould not be put in tho ground till all
LANCER of frosts or cool nights has pass
Il.
Sometimes the plants, while growing
ave the earth kept closely packed
round the roots but there is really no |
in it. The greatest point
5 to have the hills rs rich as they cat be
made before putting in the seed, and {
he next is TO LET them tvSc care Of
themselves. Just at the lime the melons ,
re half grown they seem TO do well in I
ills where they they arc completely
idden and shaded by tall grass and Y
reeds, but this is due more to The fact ;
ut they arc not disturbed in such cases,