The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-03-11


tine important money products of the farm
.n nearly all off the Southern States has
rendered the industry quite an extensive
ore in recent years. All through the vel
low pine sections of Georgia and Florida,
known locally as the wire grass region
The Watermelon seems 10 thrive best and
annually hundreds and thousands of acres
of land are devoted to its culture. Per
hams the most luscious and most hinly
rrized watermelons grown in the South
are those which are produced on the
'.wire grass" lands of South Georgia
Other sections may produce MELONS
equal in size and appearance, but the
flavor of the Georgia melons are unex-
leued and owing to that fact they have
won for themselves q rational reputation
ton superiority over al! others.
The large melon growers who are IN
the business extensively and who grow
melons Tor market are generally we'll
posted as to the best methods of culture
and fertilization. But nearly every farm
err no mater how limited. him farm area,
is certain to plant at least a small plat
of ground in waterncIors for his i,nme-
date family consumption, and it is 10
that class. rather than the extensive
melon growers, that the Information con
tanned in this article IS directed. No
man operating a farm would be without
these luscious melons during the warm
days Of summer, and the proper prepara-
tion of the soil and fertilization will have
much to do with the success Of the crop
later on.
SOIL AND LOCATION.
warm, sandy soil, light and not too
damp, is best suited for the growth of
Watermelons. Like the grape, the water
melon requires good under drainage and
should not be planted on fiat, damp
land However, the land should not be
toe dry: sufficient capillarity must exist
to keep the roots of the plants we'll sup
Piled with moisture during periods OF
drought. On nearly every farm at least
q small area Of such land can be found
and it should be selected for the melon
crop. While watermclons viii grow on
almost any kind Of soil that has been
nicely prepared and properly fertiliZed,
il seasons are favorable vet when we
know in advance just what is best for
the plant and can get it without risking
too much to seasons, it becomes our duty
TO t2llc advantage Of what knowledge We
possess and utilize it to our best inter
cats. Many farmers know these facts
from a knowledge born Of long expert
enre, While others not so we'll posted
can acquire Information by investigation
and save to themselves the Ia borous pro-
cess Of experiment. An ideal location
then, fo9 production of melons to the
highest type of perfection is warm,
light gray top soil with strong, com
Pact. clay subsoil. In the absence Of such
auhsoil. however, the crop Will do well
if conditions
Too much humus or rather vegetable
matter in the soil is not desirable. as it
has tendency to make the melons wa
tory and insipid, reducing the percentage
Of #accharine matter. In no case should
melons be planted the second year on
land which grew them the year before.
\t least four years should Intervene,
Giving time to eXterminatc certain in
@"cts which would seriously affect the
second crop and also TO give the land an
r.Trrtunjty to recover from the drain
The molon crop makes on the potash e1e-
mont of plant food. | discussed this
question with an extensive melon grower
lH middle Florida some weeks ago, and
M said that if none of the melons were
allowed to remain in the field and rot
That second could he grown on the same
ground provided a fertilizer rich in
POTASH was used But planted new land
every ear. Experience, which is the
Haficst and best teacher, has clearly de-
''onStrated that it is safest to rtate the
crop and not risl. second years plant
ing on the same land. Perhaps VIC may
d!5'9N@r some day Il means for perpetu-
"'ng The melon crop on the same land
as vi" do cotton. but it is neither ncedful
ai this time nor is it safe TO do 50.
PREPARATION AND FERTILIZATION
ho soil should be well broken and
thoroughly narrowed. In sandy lands
"3"t breaking is preferable, though in
."' -tlH rcd clay lands of The more
.'fth'In belt it would be better to break
I''a"f. going down below the hard pan.
''' roots Of the watermelon prefer to
-''" l7tcrally, and make the best devel-
'''i"9t Whaa conditions arc not such as
' ''i'e the roo stdonWpv- ~ IS e
-"f'a the roots downward either in
'E'h Of moisture or where the soil has
H"eply broken. Pulvcrizc the TOP
' with the harrow until a fine nice
.h mas been secured. Following a field
'."1'"i the year previously in cow peas
'' make the rows the distance should
-'Hged according to the fertility of the
on very rich land whore luxu-
"' growth of the vine is likely to be
H1H, distance of 12x12 feet would
y" 100 much, though the average Of
' leet Is most frequently employed
'ahH should always be checked SC
."' Tho hills will be cqudistant apart
N ''e plat by running light scooter
'" I'D both directions, then the rows
"hleh the fertilizers are to bf
'' should be opened ont deep and
"lA a shovel ploy. After drilling
n' t'f'}izer and mixing il with the
i> orc er two trips in the row with
list on tho row with turn plow
''io"s on each side The middlcs
'' broken out later At planting lin,
rom 10 10 = seed in each hill. Law
3h2 seed around in i circle. anc
each seed down with the finger