The Holly chieftain., 1898-05-13
oAnrALoups CULTURE

cAMTALoUPE 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. Htauifer.
an experienced antaloupe grower Of
Rocky Ford:
After the plants begin to show the
third and fourth leaves. to secure the
most rapid growth and to hays that
dark heavy green 30 desirable in the
cantaloupe plant. scatter about . pint Of
ashes aronnd each hill. This has the
double purpose of rapidly stimulating
growth and keeps away bugs
Now begin the cultiyating by hoeina
about the hills. to hoe the ashes in.
This should be carefully and we'll done.
by drawing the earth un to the plants
as high as the first leaves. Care should
be taken TO remove all weeds from
around the hills. If the ground shows
any signs oflbeing dry, q watering would
be bene6cial, but as long as the plants
are doing we'll keep right on cultivating,
for eternal watchfulness and cultivation
is the price Of cantsloupes. As long ~
you can keep up the capillary attraction
and sub-irrigation by cultivation. and
hoeing which brings about the desired
growth. do 50 by all means. The vines
will hold up longer, produce . better
crop in quantity and quality and will
resist drouth when water il short much
better. You should watch your crop
and land csyefully, and V nes blat not
Allow YOUR crop to reach that point
where 1t will lake great deal Of water
ing. or dooding as 1t were to revive It.
Ifth,s Is allowed you will in al proba-
billty reduce your crop ons-third or one
half. but watch your land and keep II
in that loose. friable. vegetable mold
condition and watering will be an easy
matter and the crop good one.
The cultivation and care Of the crop
should be with the view of stimulating
root growth as we'll as vine growth. II
this is done the root will grow 70 about
the same length as the vins snd form
innumerable rootlets or feeders, 70 fine
that in many instances they cannot be
seen with the naked eye. The more
numerous these are the better will the
crop be in quantity and quality.
There are times in the existence Of
the cantaloups and watermelon when It
would appear that watering would be
= good thing when in fact 1t is positive
injury. Avery slight watering might
be of benefit, but in almost all cases too
much is given. as the want Of water is
oyer estimated. This as rule occurs
near ripeninR time ind is most notice
able with crops that have been more or
less neglected. When at this period an
over supply Of water is given or heavy
fall Of rain occurs, it has the effect of
diluting the sugars in the melon. and
before the water can be evaporated or
thrown off and another supply of sugar
extracted from the soil, The melon ripens
and It is tasteless and without quality.
It also has the effect Of producing mel.
ons over size aud smooth. Tho farther
. melon sets from the roots, the larger
it is, the less quality 1t has and 1t is
never 30 perfectly netted. The cultiva-
tion should be often and shallow and
continued as long as possible. We have
often thrown back upon the bill half
she length Of the vine. cultivated the
ground and straightened out the vines
again and in every instance the crop
was benefited. When the last cnltiva-
tion Il given We draw our water furrows
q sbcut two fact from the bill on each
side the six foot way, clean them out
and await the ripeninR. with probably
an occasional watering.
Before picking or gathering time ar
rives, suitable shade or shed should
Be built conveniently near the melon
patch, and - fast - aathsred should
be taken 10 the shed and cut Of the
san, for after the ripening process Ue-
gins the sun has the effect Of soon SOFT
eniDR them. 4 melon lsft Ia the morn.
ing will Be unht to ship At night. They
should II possible be picked twice : day
very early in the morning and in the
altsrncon in dime % Get 70 the car 81
shipptnS station. The piekinr sud
csatins = soasethips that to do wsll yos
|mnss have experiences. A nsw man ~
A many lnatansss leave twirs III wsss1 y
- u 1sld. 70 Do this ven, = / hsys
|sadd. nesds sxpssisnes. You shouId
Feaszy ! ~ " pAst u losvsa ~ vassn
- ~ pespoe1 X 1etiss ezananins.
peat ~ - ~ ~ ~ ~ W ~
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|6Ick ettsS4 yyIll n " 4 y y Z = o1l3es Il uls3sIl
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