Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-27
WATERMELON CULTURE.
The Value of the Melon Crep-Sug-
gestiOns as 20 Their Cultivation.

Editor Morning Meas To the person
welded to the ''all cotton" system Of planting,
the culture of watermelons no doubt seems to
be worthy of very slight consideration. Yet
when it is known that hundreds of thousands
Of watermelons grown in Richmond county
alone without calculating the large number
grown in other portions of this State
and Of Florida) are annually ship
ped from the city Of Augusta,
faint idea of the value Of that crop can be
formed. 1t is a crop that natures and is mar
keted at a time when money is scarce with the
average farmer, and is very valuable on that
account alone, without taking into con-
sideration the question of great profit
when well grown. OF course, like other
crops: the price obtained is regulated by the
law of supply and demand" and probably to
a much greater extent than crops that are less
periShable.
propose, with the permission of the con
Vention, to give the mode of cultivation that
prevails in Richmond county, Georgia-the
county so long and so justly celebrated for the
large size ana fine quality OF its watermelonS.
In NV opinion, the best land for a melon
patch is sandy loan, and. it possible, select
a piece that has been Living OUT and has
grown up IN broom sedge or young pines. Plow
it thoroughly during the winter. having first
burned on the grass as the ashes of the grass
seem to correct anv acidity of the soil. Lay
".
twelve the other. Dig a hole about eighteen
inches or two feet in diameter and about ten
or twelve inches deep. drawing the top soil
out on one side of the hill and the subsoil ont
on the other side All this operation can be
done during the winter or early spring. AS
early as possible in the winter prepare a COM
post of about three-quarter stable manure and
one-quarter cotton seed, to be used as fertili
zer for the melons. About the middle Of March
put two shoveIfuls of this compost, together
with a small handful of some good ammoniated
hncTh hofn In fhA oh oIr 1wy
pared, and mix 1t all thoroughly together with
hoe. Then draw in the top soil, thrown out
when digging the hole, and make the
hill up In shape Of cone
Throw two furrows each side of the bill with
turn plow. tapping the earth around the base
of the cone to prevent water from settling
around the hill and thereby teaching away the
manure.
The patch is now ready for planting, and as
soon as all danger from frost is past, take
hoe or reke and knock off the top of the cone
leveling the hill down to about two or three
| inches above the surrounding surface OF the
land. This is done In o'der to have fresh seed
bed and to kill any weeds or grass that may
have started around the hill.
Plant about six seeds in each hill the first
patch again and press in with with the the
is done in order to insure "a stand" DT and Ho to
| provide against any late frost, as melons are
| injured by cold weather, and it would be better
| to dig up any that have been so checked in
| to allow them to remain and struggle along
only to produce very inferior specimen at
| last
AS soon as the plants are large enough to
| admit of stirring the ground around them, hoe
| the hill thoroughly and thin out to two, and as
| soon as they have formed four or five leaves
thin down to one plant to the hill, If you desire
large size melons, which, If you are growing
! for market, it is absolutely necessary to
| have. About this time it will be neces-
| sary to plow out the middles thoroughly with
a turn pillow or shovel plow, running as deep as
| possible Keep the hill free from grass bv fire.
| quent use Of the hoe, an each working of the
| Be particular never to plow the ground when
| wet, or disturb the vines when the dew is on
them, as at this time they are very brittle and
| are easily injured. while on the contrary, when
they have dried of, they are exceedingly
tough.
In laying by" melon patch, in Richmond
county, 1t is customary when the vines have
nearly met or have commenced to set their
fruit, to carefully turn them upside down, out
of each alternate middle, and pow them
out thoroughly with sweeps, running next to
the bill as shallow as possible, and dropping two
rows OF COW peas in the centre about eighteen
inches apart, to be covered by the last furrow
of the sweep. These peas do not iDjure the
growth of the melons in any waV. but after the
vines have ceased to bear ripen very fair
yield OF peas to the acre, or furnish considera-
ole hrst-ciass forage; at the same time they
protect many fine melons from the scorching
| effect of the sun Turn the vines back into
their former place as soon as possible in order
to prevent the sun from twisting them and
thereby causing trouble in handling. 1t is best
to have two sets of hands for this business, one
set TO turn the vines out and one set to turn
them back
Having worked out each alternate middle
in this way turn back and work out
the balance in the same manner
1t would probably be better to allow
two or three days to elapse before turning
back, In order to give the vines a chance to
catch hold Of the ground again, as a storm
might cause considerable damage to the patch
If both sides of the hill had been torn up at the
same time. To person unaccustomed TO see
ing this plan of ''laying by" it would seem as
though the patch had been completely ruined,
but in a few days the vines grow off with In
creased Yigor and soon completely cover the
ground, and in a short time the senses are glad
dened with that lu xury of luxurie S. ripe water
melons; and now it is only LETT with the produc-
er and consumer to say Ito what profit?" There
are two varieties that are very popular in Au-
gustl, viz the old "Rattlesnah g" and the new
'Scaly -bark"-the former obong in shape,
wit light and dark-green stripes and the lat
ter q little more round in shape and of solid
dai k-green color. Both have bright red, crisp
flesh, and are very sweet and grow to immense
size when properly cultivated. have known
melons to have been sold in Augusta that
weighed over seventy pounds These always
command fancy prices.
1t will be seen that my views have been ex-
pressed altogether with the object to furnish
melons as a market crop, but there is another
side of the question. is there sny one ia good
health who, on a hot day in July or August,
When Cne Cnermometer ranges In the n1netles,
would refuse to partake of a well grown, lus-
cious watermelon, plucked before the sun has
dsspated the dew. and put aside in a cool
place to await the time when its crimson h-sh
shall be called for as refreshment to his
parched lips and throat? | cannot imagine
such a person Therefore, If there are any
here who do not make a practice of planting
watermelons, and who do not consider their
Gu ture for market possible on account Of the
situation of their farm, plant plenty for family
use, and they will be rewarded by the happy
faces and increased vigor of their families and
employees. FRED LITTLE.