The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-02
Watermelon Culture.

In the multiplicity of the Southern
farmers crop the watermelon is very apt
to be somewhat overlooked and not re-
ceive the attention its importance calls
for, writes C. Q. MeQuarles. Take it all
in ell there are very few crops that give
better return than this crop. But TO
insure the best success, a proper begiu-
ming must be made. In selecting a loca-
ton for this crop il is essential that the
field have southern exposure and located
50 that the morning sun shines directly
on the crop, for there is oil the differences
imaginable between watermelons grown
where they get the full benefit of the
morning sun than those grown where this
condition does not exist
After selecting a location it IS neces-
sary that the nature of the soil should
be such that it will yield the proper quail
ity OF melon; a light. sandy loam and
of warm nature is the best soil for the
crop. Another prime essential is thorough
preparation previous to planting the seed.
The land should be thoroughly plowed
with good turning pillow and everything
in the shape of vegetation plowed under,
and after blowing the land should be
thoroughly worked with either harrow
or harroW-teeth cultivator. If the preVI-
Gus crop has been such that it got clean
culture, the land will be in good shape,
be taken so as TO get all clods thorough
ly pulverized. My favorite crop to pre-
cede watermelOns is sweet potatoes, for
in the digging of this crop the land is
put in almost perfect condition for suc>
ceeding crop of melons
After putting the soil in a good shape
as possible lay il off in burrows eight feet
each way, and where these burrows check
scatter for three or four feet each way
about a pound and half of a high grade
fertilizer, and mix thoroughly with the
soil The fertilizer should analyze about
7 per cent phosphoric acid and per cent.
potash and or per cent. nitrogen. Fail
ing TO be able 60 get this grade of fertil-
zer, mix 500 pounds acid phosphate, $50
pounds sulphar lie of potash and apply a
couple of weeks before planting time, and
when the plants are well up apply about
$50 pounds nitrate of soda in the immediate
vicinity of the hills and work in. This is
just as near complete watermelon fer
tilizer as one can wish.
In growing watermelons for shipping
one must try to avoid too nitrogenous
fertilizer; stable manure and compost
fertilizers never give the high grade mel
ons that commercial fertilizers produce in
fact all this classes of fertilizers to be
avoided is the solid shipper is wanted For
home use compost is used with mineral
fertilizers, such as phosphate and potash,
and will give fairly good results but if
the season is wet the vines are apt to
scald very badly after heavy rains.
In melon growing, as in everything else,
one has to study his market, study the
variety of melon requested in that mar
ket and act accordingly; and this being
one of the recognized cash crops, ripening
in eighty to 100 days from planting the
seed, one can afford to give it Little ex-
ira attention AT cents each there is
more money in watermelons than in almost
any crop the Southern farmer dan make,
and, therefore, the crop should not be
neglected, but given the first place, and if
this is done and the shipping properly man.
aged, the returns will prove very salts
| factory.