The Holly chieftain., 1898-05-06
oAsrALovPE CULTURE.

We take the following article on can.
taloupe culture from the April number
Of the Arkansas Valley Farmer and
Fruit Grower. written by O. B. stauffer
an experienced cantsloupe grower ol
Rocky Ford:
The musk-melon. or cantaloupe. 10 q
native Of the warmer regions Of Asia
and Africa, and it is said they are still
found growing ON the sandy lands ol
Africa and India, along the west coast
Tho cantaloupe is the name applied
to the small musk-melons of all varie-
ties, and derives the name from an e.
tate near Rome, in Itsly. called Canta-
louppi. that belonged to the Pope.
Here the small or green fieshed melons
were raised in great quantities, and
were given to all who called and espe-
ctally the poor Of the great city and the
surrounding country, and - there wa
no known name for this luscious little
melon among the people. they called
them cantelouppi, designating the place
thev csne from. and We now have the
name cantaloupe.
Tho cantaloupe that ID raised in this
vicinity, and which has become 30 fAr
nous. is known as the Melted Gem va
riety. and was originated BY the famous
seed Arm Of ". Atlee Burpee d Co..
and first given to the public by them
in 1881. In which year the writer raised
them. / am well aware this little mel
on has various names given II. / have
raised this cantaloupe for 10 yeaFs and
believe ] know the melon whom I 80
Il. regardless Of the name applied,
lam going 70 assume that you have
have good seed and good land. and II
the crop is properly cared for. you can
reasonably expect from 90 to l50 crates
per acre, In manv insta noes the yield 10
much more. There u one instance
where the yield was 3o< crates per acre.
this being the largest ! ever knew.
Something like 200 crates have been
marketed in number Of instances.
In the preparation of the soil, I venld
advise that the ground be well irrigated
before plowing. Plow the ground only
. few days before planting. After the
land has been we'll narrowed and level
ed. draw the furrows for watering and
planting, shovel out the loose dirt in
the furrows. then run the water through
and You are ready to plant. The seeds
should be IL to 20 in number 70 each
hill Ind should be planted s BY feet
apart. 70 that the crop can be cultivated
both ways. Plant within two inches of
the furrow and about one-half inch be-
low the top Of the water line in the fur
row. If fyour furrows run east and west
plant on the north aide Of the furrow,
or If north and south. plant ON the west
side of the furrow. This gives you the
warmth ofthe sun and the furrow acts
- kind Of reflection. II land hxs
been watered before plowing. with the
additional watering through burrows.
that should be all the watering necessa-
ry antil the plants are we'll up. would
recormend thorough pulverising and
levsling of the soil. . compxctness that
will hold moisture we'll. yet . soil that
will cultivate easily and that will mel
low and fine up without further effort.
II GOOD seed has been planted and the
soil 10 In the condition described, your
ssed bed ID I'll that could be desired.
Alfalfa lands are considered - the
bestfor cantaloupes. However. land
highly manfred the previous year and
cultivated in some crop IL very good,
and land upon which good heavy crop
Of green rye can be plowed under, made
compact and planted at once 10 about q
good q can be had or imagined. A
humid soil. or soil in which there Il
dscaying matter Of green or strAw-like
nature, having within itself enough
moisture to continue the dscayiDs pro-
cess; or nearly %. y the ideal soil Tor iii
vine crops. Still good crops can b.
grown from gronnd freshly manursd.
but It takes more wort to accomplish
the same rssults ] would also adyiss
that previous to planting poiponsd corn,
wheat or osts b scattered over and
around the cantaloups or watsvmslon
aeid, 70 destroy the sopherS. rabbib
bquirrels and mice, = the0o nnifnsls viii
begin digdng mp The sesd about the
time you ~ through splAnsins. end II
some Instances they WIN ~ The youpe
plsntA 4 half dossn rabbits u . nsld
WI - ~ plants Of ab0ds = ~
asthey ccns .. md hallo~ed y -
ynain thsy Nill eoatinae ~ nipptne
ptocsn ~ euslls sllul6 !. ! ~ - ~
e9np 49, aHd Il 1ejnD Il s1,ens Ynin it