The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-22
One Million Dollars Realized from the
Industry In Few weeks-Ths
Melon Monarch.

~ acres III AN0Ao00, 0AN WAAA OAAAP AsOVV
carloads, averaging 1900 each, the present
season. Pelham, in this county, ships more
melons than any other known point in the
world. She will send forth this season $50
carloads, Camilla, Baoonton and Hardaway
making up as many more.
Mr.. j. L. Hand is the largest individual
melon grower in the state. His crop en-
braces 467 acres. He is an opqlent merchant
table palace. He has devoted much time
and thought to the subject of melon grow
ing. He says, in point of solidity. weight
and excellence, the yield of the present sea-
son has never been eQualed. One of his
neighbors, Mr.. j. J. Myers, recently shipped
was a, 9O5 pounds, making an average OF
AZ pounds. The heaviest Of them weighed
rs pounds each. In no previous season have
there been such fine melons. The kolb va
riety is almost circular in form and Is pre-
ferred for market on account OF the tough
ever, the Jones melon of Baker county and
the Lawson or Rattlesnake variety, Of
Burke. are considered the most deli
cate and palatable. The crop of
s sst will q p 81 fss t sas
the precautions and judioious distribution
of the fruit by the exchange. It is note
worthy fact, also, that since the exchange,
throurh such reliable representatives as
Mr.. Hand and others, has explored and
ern '1 no;nts a. establishino reliable agencies,
not aniv IN The large cities, but lesser
tn.vns The consnmntion OF melons and the
demand for them have greatly increased.
have Just seen orders for carloads OF
melons from villages in the extreme north
west. and even as far as Toronto, Canada.
indeed. with proper encouragement from
the railroads.. the watermelon territory can
he extended almost indefinitely, and this
new industry be made to take rank in value
and importance with the great staples Of
the country.
See what has already been accomplished.
Careful estimates place the actual net re-
tnrns the present season to melon growers,
when the crop is gathered, at the handsome
sum Of S4OO. coo, To this must be added
over $3.50, 600 paid to the several railroads,
thus making an aggregate Of about 81, 0O0,
600 realized in few weeks from the melon
industry, which is still in its infancy. This
is outside Of the profits Of the seed raisers.
Some farmers grow melons for the seed
alone. which command from Is cents to 81
per pound in the market.
The planting season begins in February
The The ground ground "a sandy loan is the best5 hsv.
ing been previously we'll broken and pulver-
lied, is checked off in squares ten feet each
way, and fiat hill formed with hoe at
the intersection of each square. In this hill
the fertilizer is deposited, usually one
pound of guano (sometimes supple
mented with q little farm-yard manure)
equal to 500 pounds per acre, which is care
fully mixed with the soil. Three or four
seeds are then placed on one side OF the
hill, and when about to terminate the other
side is also seeded. After the lapse OF
few days the third side is also planted, and
yith atlll the interval OF another week the
work is completed by seeding the fourth
and last side. This Ia done to guard against
the frosts. Ii the first planting ls killed
the second comes forward, ana II TINS fal!a
then the next takes its place, and so with
the fourth and last seeding. Thus the ear.
LEST possible stand is secured-a matter OF
great Experimentation the loss OF sin
gle day. The cultivation consists in shall
low plowings often repeated, before the
vines cover the ground, followed usually at
the last working with two rows of peas
dropped in the center between the melon
hills.
Can the melon be raised in successive
years on the same land? This ia question
which has finally been settled by hundreds
Of experiments. The answer is an emphatic
no: -Four years at least should .n intervene e
seven should be allowed to pass. It matters
not how rich the soil may have become by
artificial Standardization crops can be
successfully grown upon it, but the melon
never in succession. This, perhaps, is due
to the fact that the saccharine elements in
the earth have been exhausted by the
draught made upon it to produce the sweet
and delicious core of the melon. The fer
tilizers, applied however literally, seem to
lack some essential ingredient not con
tanned in their chemical analysis. Query:
Gould this deficiency be remedied BY dress
ing of sugar or diluted syrup! The hint ie
simply thrown out for what 1t is worth.
It can readily be seen that melon produc-
ton will always be necessarily restricted IN
volume. Only certain area on each farm
lying contiguous to railroad or watel
course can be utilized for that purpose, and
this should and certainly must enhances
the demand and price for the article. Wher
planted IN succession the vines become dis
eased and rusty and yield but scanty re-
turn OF INFERIOR fruit. A moderately dry
season ID the best for melons, Heavy ane
continuous rains cause the vines to die an6
the fruit either decays or becomes speckeG
and understandable.
II requires about nve months to grow and
market crop OF melons. The outlay variel
with the price OF labor. In soma
sections hands are contracted TOR a
SO per month and found tx
the close of the season. Generally
however, especially IN harvesting. laborerl
are hired by the day at from % cents to q
gathered az noon arc Ao10AeA oosAooss ~