The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-19
Preparations for Watermelons.

A few hills for family use may be
prepared as follows;
In the fall or early winter dig holes
about 10 feet apart each way, feet
square and from Is to "a inches deep.
Then place on the bottom of each hole
from a peck to a half bushel of corn
cobs. Place on the cobs a peck of cot
ton seed; then fill each hole heaping full
with a mixture composed of from two
to three bushels of rich mould from the
woods, preferably from beneath cedar
trees, a peck of stable manure and
sufficiency of the adjoining soil to fill
as aforesaid.
In early spring clean out the holes,
cobs and all. Mix some fresh cobs with
the old ones, and throw back Place on
the cobs from a gallon to peck OF
fresh cotton seed, and then fill with the
soil that was thrown out, to inches
above a level. The hills will prevent
damage to the plants in case of wet
weather. The eobs will materially pro-
long the life and bearing capacity of
the vines.
A half pound of a fertilizer, contain
ing nitrogen per cent, phosphorus acid
8 per cent, and potash s per cent, may
be applied to each hill,
In lieu of the above, the following ma
terials may be mixed and used for 100
hills, or in the same proportion for any
other number: Nitrate of soda II lbs,
acid phosphate, 20 lbs, muriate OF
potash Is lbs. Apply the fertilizer to a
space three to four feet over and work
it in well with hoe. 1t is deemed best
to leave a proper space at the center OF
the HILL where the seeds are planted,
without fertilizer, lest they be damaged
SPROUTED SEED.
Sprouted seed come up better than
the ordinary dry seed. To sprout them,
they may be soaked in tepid water for
about twelve hours, then place in some
convenient vessel, such as tin can,
cover with a cloth or paper and turn
the can bottom upwards. Keep in
a warm room and occasionally apply
warm water. The can will confine the
steam and soon cause the seed to sprout,
when they are ready for planting. 10
do this make hole in the hill with the
index finger about one and one-halt
inches deep, rop a seed therein, sprout
end down, and cover gently. Two, or at
most three, sprouted seed are enough for
a hill If the ground is sufficiently
warm the plants will soon be up.
Sprouted seeds should not be planted
in a cold soil.
Some years ago I had nineteen seed
of choice melon. ! sprouted them,
planted the sprouted ends down and pro-
cured seventeen plants.
While the plants are small they
should be thinned to one or at most
two plants to hill. Some old melon
growers are in favor of one plant
While the plants are small, an addi-
tional half pound of fertilizer may be
applied to each hill and worked in as
aforesaid. The fertilizer can now be APP
piled close to the plants without in
jury. l have thus at two applications
used pound to a hill with excellent
results, and never saw. any injuries by
reason of the quantity used.
1t is general conceded that COM
mercial fertilizers produce melons of
finer flavor than other manures, hence
the necessity for using them.
it is deemed best to cultivate melon
vines fast until they commence running,
and thepceforth not move them. The
crust, however, can be advantageously
broken after every rain by a long mar
row blade passed gently beneath the
vines, Until the first crop of melons get
half grown, or even larger. l have
worked them thus with fine results.
BAD EFFECTS OF THINNING.
l believe that melon vines should not
be thinned after they have attained con-
siderable siZe-run two or three feet
The past season / drew a vine from
each of two hills that contained three
plants. The vines left dwindled and
did no good, while those in the imme
diate vicinity continued to flourish 1
believe that the roots left in the ground
did the damage. Therefore, when ne
cessary. to thin, | believe the plants
should be dug up, thus procuring all
the roots possible, and that the plants
should then be removed from the
ground
If a mole cut a vine that has run six
or eight feet causing it to die, every
vine that crosses branch OF the dead
vine, will soon become affected. and
the disease may spread over the entire
patch. 1t is well known that water
melons cannot be successfully grown
two years in succession on the same
land: the dead vines and roots appear to
affect the next crop.
BRYAN TYSON.
No. -