The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-23

er can make. as being specially a cash
crop and coming in at time of the year
between other crops such as the early
truck crops and the main farm crops.
u ms the gap in very satisfactory
The question is often asked. why is il
that the northern markets never get the
extraordinary sweet and luscious water
markets OF the south? The reason OF
that Is that the best shipping melons
and those that will ship satisfactorily TO
the north are OF an inferior quality. To
get good shipping melon il has TO have
a tough rind. and thick as well, and the
mealy, sugary htin rind melon viii not
SNIP 70 any distance, but il has been
proved by practical demonstrations. that
oy using potash literally in the fOrma-
ton OF the soil it sweetens the melons
ana tends to tougher and harden the
rlnd OF them Ost thin and tender varie-
TIES, so that there is a possibility of being
aDle 10 ship as far north as we choose
even our best varieties of this crop.
IN this latitude melons for shipping to
Iar away markets have to be planted the
last week in February or the first week in
March, and II a late frost in March should
come along after the plants are up. we
nave TO cover them with sacks or paper
double fold Of a piece OF newspaper
heid down by little soil al the edges is
ample protection for quite few degrees
! find a watermelon crop is best to
IoLlow a root crop. such as potatoes
mediately a winter crop of turnips, car
r0ts or beets; the soil should be well
proved and in Just the best condition
possible before planting. Watermelons
require but very little nitrogen for a
FERTILIZER, as the vines draw about all
they want from the atmosphere. A little
be applied, say about one hundred
pounds per acre at the last narrowing
before planting; also at the same time
not less than four hundred pounds per
acre OF SlIUh9tQ nf will far
toWaIds making a satisfactory crop
ABOUT a week before planting time lay
OF the land in checks, eight feet each
way Is quite enough. in these checks
work about a shovelful of well rotted
stable manure and about pound of acid
phosphate that analyses not less than
II per cent. of phosphoric acid, all this has
10 pc well mixed with the soil in the hill
ana the hills left level with the ground
because as rule March IS a very dry
month here, and IL the hills are raised
above the level they are apt to get too
ury TO sprout the seed well and grow
satisfactorily.
all Is that it helps TO warm the soil in
the hills and gives the plant good send
on toward successful crop-bearer; in
this way you will observe there is quite
heaVy application of potash, but being
IN the sulphate it goes a long way to
help sweeten the melons and to preserve
SSnen rom rotting or, taking the black
nedu, more particularly If il gets rainy
wneather before the crop is ready to mar
ket | have tried kainit and muriate OF
potash, but find sulphate to be decidedly
tne pest. kainit don't give such tough
and hard rind and melons grown with II
are somewhat subject to blackhead Mu-
riale gives tougher and harder rind
than kainit, but not near so sweet or
sugary as the sulphate gives A great
many growers use cotton seed meal ex-
ciusiEely; this may do on some soils, par
ucularly where there is lime in its COM
poSlton, or If the previous crops had been
wen dosed with potash as it is very
seiuom that the crop that it is used for
taxes all the potash given II, and thar
is one extraordinary good point in the
use OF potash, that il STAYS right there
III III, uhe son waiting to be called up for
some future crop, but if there Is no po;-
ASH In the soil a crop of watermeions
MADE with cotton seed meal, will no,
IiPe1 thlrd OF its bulk, the other two
tnlrds viii rot before they get full grown
put IN growing watermelons to perfec-
tloh one has got to know the nature or
ms son, what 1t contains of the three
necessary elements, nitrogen, phosphoric
dclu ana potash, and whatever is defl-
clent for the success of the crop has GO,
10 10 De added in the most available form
On old land rich in humus and organic
nldtIer potash sweetens the soil and inc
TesniI Is sweeter product, let it be
SANDY SOILS of the south being deficient in
lime and rich in saccharine matter is nre-
eenilnnently the home of luscious and sweet
lruiI ana vegetables of all kinds
l find the longer I go on using and ax-
perimenting with potash of ali Kinds he
better likeft, and when hear las / often
uoJ people say this potash craze" as thev
term 1t, 'is all nonsense" and tba9 t i,'st
as good crops were made before potash
was ever heard of as there Is made with
II, l Know for fact that those people who
SPEAK thus nave never properly tested II
VI tney would talk in a different strain
foIash as a fertilizer has. come to sstav
and IN proof we find its use yearly largely
~ ~ me increase, and in very few wears
the FARMER and fruit grower who viii 49,
use use potash in one shape or another will
nave TO take back seat as his products
patronize him. 0i'0 VIII