Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-04-28
Farm Department.
cANrALouPE CULTURE.


The musk-melon, or cantaloupe, is n
native of the warmer regions of Asia
and Africa. and 1t is said they are
still found growing on the sandy lands
Of Africa and India, along the west
coast.
The cantaloupe is the name applied
to the small musk melons of all varie-
ties. and derives the name from an es-
tate near Rome. In Italy. called Cantc-
louppi. that belonged to the Pope.
Here the small or grecn-fieshed melons
were raised in great quantities. and
We're given to all who called. and espe-
cially to the poor of the great cities
and the surrounding country, and as
there was no known name for this lus-
cious little melon among the people.
they called them cantelouppi. designat-
ing the place they came from. and we
now have the name cantaloupe.
The cantaloupe thar is raised in this
vicinity. and which has become so
famous. is known as the Melted Gem
variety. and was originated by the IA
nous seed firm of W. Alice Burpec &
Co., and frs; given to the public by
them In 1881. In which year the writer
raised them. | am well aware this lit
tie melon has various named given it.
| have raised this cantaioupe for fif-
teen years and believe | know the mel
on when | see II, regardless Of the
name applied.
| am going to assume that you have
good seed and good land. ;<1d II the
crop Is properly cared for, you can ren-
sonably expect from ninety TO 100
crates per acre. in many Instances the
yield Is much more There Is one in
stance where the yield WAS :s0i crates
per acre. this being the largest l ever
knew. Something like 200 crates have
been marketed In number of In
STANCES.
In the preparation OF the soil. ]
would advise that the ground he well
irrigated before plowing. Plow the
ground only n few days before plant
Ing. After the land has been well har-
rowcd and leveled, draw the burrows
FOR watering aud planting. shovel on,
the loose dirt in the furrows. then run
the water through and you are ready
To plant. The seeds SHOULD bc twelve
to twenty In number to each hill and
should he planted five to six feet apart
so the crop can he cultivated both
ways. Plant within Two inches of the
furrnw and abOu; onc-half inch below
the top Of the wnter line In the furrow
II your burrows run east and west.
plant on the north side OF the furrow;
or, if north and south. plant on the
west side OF the furrow. This gives
yon the warih OF the sun and the fur.
row acts as n kind OF reflection. II
land has been wntcrcd before plow.
Ing. with the additional watering
through the burrows. that should be ali
the watering necessary until the plants
are well up. ! would recommend u
thorough pulycrizing and lcvcling OF
the soil. compactncss that will hold
moisture well. yet n soil that will cul.
tlvntc easily and that will mellow and
fine up without further effort. II good
seed has been planted and the soil l,
In the condition described. your seed
bed II aii ihnt could bc desired.
Alfalfa lands are considered rs the
best for cantalpupcs. However land
highly MANFRED the previous year and
cultivated In some crop is very good
and land upon which u good heavy
crop OF green rye rnn bc plowcd under
made compact AMI planted mt once l.
abou; ns good as can he had or Imag.
incd. \ humid soil. or no soil IN
which there X drcaying matter OF II
green or straw-like nntuTc. having
within itself enough moisture TO con
tnue the dccaylng process. or nearly
NO. Is the Ideal soil for NIL vine crops.
SIN good crops can bc grown from
land freshly mlnurrd. hut Il takes
suits. / would al,I advise thnt prev.
ious to planting. poisoned corn. wheat
or oats he scattered over and around
;hc cnntaipupD or watermelon field. {,
destroy the gopllrrS. rabbits. squirrels
and mice. nv these animals will begin
digging up the seed about the time YOU
are through planting. and in some III
stances they viii cat the Young plants
a haif-doczn. rabbits in u field will cn
~ -. ~.
come up. aud if allowed to remain the,
will continue the nippiug process til,
entire season. and keep the crop back
and In fact. just about ruin IL an,
make 1t so late that It will be almost
yaluclcss.
,y planting Twelve to twenty seed
to the hill II will take near one poun,
of seed 10 the acre, and we woul,
rather plant more than loss. Som,
say a half pound H. ample. and | al
init that IL would he II we did no
have to contend with the above nance
pests. besides The heavy winds, FROST
and bugs. II Is much casicr as well n
u more pleasant job to cut out and pul
up few plants than to be compelled
to rcplant, which will put that much o
your crop ten days to two weeks be
hind first planting. You will in nj
probability have to do some replantinr
though your precautions have been tn
very best. But take the prccaution L
do as little as possible. and the onl.
way to do this Is to plant plenty o
seed. If a hungry gopher, mouse o
squirrel comes along. and he finds III
teen seeds In hill. he digs up onl
half the hills he will II there were bu
six or eight seeds In n hill. The plant
will also protect themselves bette
from the winds and frosts and n muc
better stand will he secured beyond
doubt. The two or three dollars tina
might he saved In seed buying amount
TO nothing watcver compared 10 u goo
stand.
The best time for planting is froI
x,,,aI pnth t,, Nuy 1pth npI fn, I,t D..