The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-04-01
Agriculture.
-,1,rEe PACKING AND SHIPPING
AAA' WATRRMELONs.

psrimsnt stssl'N'
E,,ndence OF The Progressive Farmer.
'' II Is the privilege of all of our
mars to have an abundance cf
s,srmelons of good quality. Many
~ to raise melons with no work or
trouble.
=. ,,ndv lands, and by fertilizing
III they can be grown TO perfeo
s,r aven on the very thin lands.
Law off the rows ten feet each way
ID dio ont at the Intersections about
,;to IS inches. Fill this with we'll
,tted manure, pine straw or woods
l,ouId Put good handful of com
no,oisl fertilizer on this manure.
pru the soil on this fertilizer and
mannre, making a good broad hill,
NOT too high, but about six inches in
ba;0bt and too feet across. Thus is
will be seen that the surface is about
5x inches from the manure and
vhen the seeds are put in two TO
sree inches deep, that they will be
,Sout three inches above the fertili-
w The seeds will sprout and grow
L vigorously at first from what
Mhey have in the seeds, and by
Rsfne the roots need extra food
Eghave reached down TO the fer
fFRr. This preparation should be
rsis as least q week before the seeds
n planted, and the seeds should be
hnted just before the last frost is
Dected. say be fore the last frost
lrder that they may come up just
Ter the frost.
In Central North Carolina the last
.at comes on an average about the
HI Of April. A good plan is TO Re-
% planting for market the first of
s,SI arssr plant on the South side of
ahill, putting in about four seeds.
hs week later plant again on north
Es regardless of the condition of
fs first planting, and then one week
ler plant again. In this way you
Ike advantage of the oldest and best
hnts. Suppose the seeds planted
lgril 1st should germinate April 9TH
nd you should plant again on that
hse If there comes no more frost,
hsn you are all right and have only
Riestroy the extra plants but If a
host should come Agril 10th then
he first planting will be destroyed,
atthe second planting has been in
q ground three days and are of
E.fse three days ahead of what
ndi be planted on that day. This
pan should be followed when the
melons are grown for market as
lev days sooner or later will determ.
As Tasher the crop will pay hand
Mna pcis or will be grown at loss.
las Plants can be protected with
'A42ss piece of bark, pine straw, or
Ri1k. Some plant early in tin
''a', and in large turnips scooped
VII and the turnips set out in the
'"aad when frost is no longer ex
FEd. The early melons are the
: That bring the fancy prices.
L grown for family use, a few
4sAter makes no difference.
Grown for shipping, they should
u tough, thick -rind variety,
= s' the KOlb Gem, Jones or the
nph. Pull about two days
>,sr than you would for home use,
,Ssy will ripen some on the road.
Careful not TO bruise in the
and carefully pack in the cars.
easier TO show any one how go
= Car shan it is TO tell them. 1t
>A7 curing tobacco; you have to
= Il Oy actual experience. How
- will make a few suggestions.
n. pDe straw, or wheat straw into
ns,1 about II inches deep. Com
o,. the ends and pack to the
A,. the car. First put down a
L., " short melons at the end, be-
S'etul that there is no play be
= the last melon and the wall.
m, match these as nearly as pos
a., With another row of longer
B.,~ Next put a row on top of
O. '"o rows, being careful TO put
~, -us against the wall and the
S,s, .ayer and top on the second
lso r1g =. long melons. Keep up this
.a,T I'll the doors are reached with
ayers. The melons should have
III whatever, but should be
l., 'salnst each other and the wall.
'osn ends are packed to the