The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-08-25
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.


Nutmeg Melons.
Waldo F. Brown tells how he grows
nutmeg melons, which are now quite .
commodity, being both healthful and
palatable:
Among the crops which / have found
profitable to grow for market is nut
meg muskmelons. They have not so
many insect enemies TO contend with
as watermelons, and are not likely to
be damaged by boys and men, as they
dc not need to plug the melons to eff
they are ripe; they are more prolific,
and the market is rarely overstocked
with really good nutmegs. The land
should be well MANFRED and well
drained. A good half crop of potatoes
may be grown on the same land with
no detriment to the melons. Lay of
rows for potatoes 80 inches apart,
and then leave space of six
feet, making the melon row in
the middle. This will bring
the melon rows IT feet apart,
and If planted 5 feet apart in the row,
will give about 200 hills to the acre.
Even when the land is rich / think 1t
pays to manure in the hill so as to give
the vine a good start early in the
season, and If you have poultry manure
it will be the best and most convenient
to use for the purpose. It should be
mixed with an equal bulk OF rich leaf
mould and sprinkled with water to
make it heat. Use teaching from a
manure pile if you can get it. Pile it
in conical heap until thoroughly hot,
then spread it six or eight inches deep
and turn it every day until the heat
subsidies, then it will be in condition to
use. This manure should be prepared
under cover, or at least, covered from
heavy rains. Make the hills four
inches higher than the level of the
land, as they will not be so easily
flooded by heavy rain, and compacted.
As soon as the plants begin to show
you should begin to work them The
striped bug will be on hand, but nut
megs are harder than either water
melons or cucumbers, and close atten-
ton will usually save them. am not
sure that can offer a specific for the
bugs, for often they come in such num-
bers as to destroy the plants almost be-
fore the gardener is aware of their
presence. Any thing that helps the
thrift and vitality of the plant is good,
for the bugs will not work after they
are in the rough leaf; so loosen the
earth in the hill as soon as you can see
them, and sprinkle them with mixture
of COW manure and water made as thick
as cream. 1t is claimed that the strong
odor of this will keep the bugs away.
/ have not had an opportunity to test
it, but know it to be good for the
plants and / shall try it this year. A
handful of bran to hill, applied to the
plants when the dew is on, not only
sprinkled on the leaves, but a little
piled around the stems, will often save
them, and the bran is an excellent fer
tilizer. Gritty turnpike dust. first
sifted, and literally used when the dew
is on, is also a good remedy.
Paris green will kill the bugs, put If
much of it is applied it will also kill
the plants, and difficulty in using it
is that it can not well be applied to the
under side of the leaf, as it must be
put on when the plants are dry, in
minute quantities, or it will kill
them. Use one part of green to
eight of floor, and only dust on
enough so that it can just be seen.
Kerosene and milk, one to ten, thor
oughly mixed, and sprinkled on the
vines is also good remedy. Ibelieve
that either the bran or turnpike dust
used literally when plants are damp,
and repeated if washed off by rain, be-
fore they are beyond the reach of the
bug will be found effectual, but would
also use the manure-water. Another
precaution would advise is to plant
plenty of seed at the first planting; put
ten or more seeds in the south half oil
the hill; week later put as many
more in the north half. If you do moi
get stand from the first planting you
probably will from the second.-Farna-
ers' Home Journal