The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-17

after the crop, and that viii insure a
higher price for the melons II the melon
growers VIII organize and cooperate they
can secure important benefits. There Is
no question but that this country is well
adapted 70 the culture OF melons and
thar 1t can be made very profitable If
proper care Is taken It should be re-
membered. however. that it only pays 70
raise the best. Poor melons are 3 drug
on the market at any price
The foloRi ing estimate Of the cost OF
producing an acre OF canteloupes is pre-
pared by the experiment station at SUI
water:
Preparation q soil .........-........-.-.s2. %
seed and planting -..........---........ Is
Horsepower cultivation .......-........ 2.oa
Hoeing -......-...........--.---..- t-ec
Total .-.......-....-..-...-...-. 81. ,
The expense OF production OF course
varies and may be more or less than this
estimate. according TO the condition OF
the ground About one pound Of seed IS
sown 70 the acre and the seed win cost
pound An acre Of eanteloupes
should produce from 5000 to 7.oo3 melons.
The melons At the station farm at StilI-
water, in very poor soil. produced 45o9.
Mr.. Merten says that 500 IS a good yield
The melons are packed for shipment IN
baskets holding = TO Is each Good mel
ons VIII sell hare in Chandler for an av-
erage Of 70 cents p dozen net. The nrice
and quality Of Oklahoma canteioupes in
the Kansas city markets have been bet
ter than those Of the Texas product.
Care must be taken that the melons are
not r.eked too green.
The best soil is from a sandy 70 a
sandy loan. New ground is preferable
to old ground as the melons mature from
one TO two weeks earlier on new ground
than on old. New ground is also cleaner
and more easily worked DO not plant
where melons or cotton were grown thu
previous year and be sure to burn all
trash and vines on the ground before
planting. in order 10 guard against the
melon louse. Canteloupes may be plant
ed and handled much the same as cucum-
hers. except that they need more Hght.
heat and air. Plant in rows about eight
feet apart and the hills should be from
SIX 70 eight feet apart in the row and
should be well prepared by pulveriziug
the soil and mixing with a liberal supply
of stable manure, The only thing 20 be
guarded against in fertillzing is the pro-
ductior OF an excess OF vine with a cor
responding lack of fruit. This condition
is to be guarded against by pinching or
the terminal buds Mr.. AIerten SAYS that
from April 10 to Is is early enough to
plant in this country. Always bear in
mind that the earlier you can get your
melons on the market the better prices
| they viii bring and only the very early
ones bring fancy prices. Ii requires about
100 days from the sowing Of the seed to
mature the melons and they are usually
ready for the market by July to 10, Cam
teloupec can be started in hot-heds. bat
this may prove expensive. and II fol-
lowed, care must be taken in transplant
I ing.
The amount Of labor required IN culti-
waiting e about the same as fol. corn or
cotton. The vines need early blowing and
hoeing, and the early work must sc
thorough and perfect. Late work Is infur-
ious, and no cultivation should be done
when the vines arc wet with dew or rain
The securing Of a good stand Is import
ant, and sometimes daily vigilance IS
necessary. Be sure to pinch the vines
back If they tend to run excessively.
have made arrangements that wiz en-
able me TO OFFER q practically unlimited
market here in Chandler for early mel
ons Of good quality. In order 70 got the
best results the best seed should be used.
and I have arranged to furnish growers
with the very best seed at moderate
cost
For any further information IN regard
to this business and for directions in re-
gard TO picking and marketing. call
on the undersigned.