Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-03
WATERMELON CULTURE.

The culture OF watermelons as one OF
the important money products OF the farm
in nearly all OF the southern states has
rendered the industry quite an extensive
one in recent years. All through the yell
low pine sections OF Georgia and Florida,
known locally as the wire grass" region,
the watermelon seems TO thrive best and
annually hundreds and thousands Of acres
OF land are devoted 20 its culture. Per-
haps the. most luscious and most highly
prized watermelOns grown In the south
are those which are produced on the wire
grass lands OF South Georgia Other sec
tons may produce melons equal in size
and appearance. but the flavor OF the
Georgia melons are unexcelled and owing
20 that fact they have won for themselves
a national reputation for superiority over
all others.
The large melon growers who are in
the business extensively and who grow
melons for market are generally well post
ed as to the best methods OF culture and
fertilization. But nearly every farmer, no
matter how limited his farm area, Is GER
tain to plant at least a small plat OF
ground in watermelons for his immediate
family consumption, and Il Is 70 that
class. rather than the extensive melon
growers. that the Information contained
IN this article is directed No man Oper-
ating a farm would be without these lus-
cious melons during the warm days
OF summer. and the proper preparation
OF the soil and fertilization viii have much
20 DO with the success Of the crop later
on.
Soil and Location.
A warm. sandy soil. light and not too
damp. Is best suited for the growth OF
watermelOns- Like the grape, the water
melon requires good undertakings and
should not be planted on fat. damp land
However. the land should not be too dry;
sufficient capiIlaTity must exist 10 keep the
roots Of the plants well supplied with
moisture during periods OF drouth- On
nearly every farm az least small area
Of such land can be found. and il should
be selected. for the melon crop. While
watermelOns viii grow on almost any kind
Of soil that has been nicely prepared and
properly fertilized, II seasons are favor
able. Jet when we Know in advance just
what is best for the plant and can get IL
without Tisking too much 10 seasons. il
becomes our duty TO take advantage OF
what knowledge We possess and utilize il
70 our best interests Many farmers know
these facts from a knowledge born Of long
experiences. while others not so well posted
can acquire Information by investigation
and save 10 themselves the laboriOus pro-
cess OF experiment An ideal location.
then. for the production Of melons 10 the
highest type Of perfection is a warm. light
gray top soil. well drained. with a strong.
compact. clay subsoiL In the absence OF
such a subsoiI. however. the crop viii dc
vel II other conditions are there
Too much humus. OF rather vegetable
matter IN the soil is not desirable. as II
has tendency 20 make the melons watery
and insipid. reducing the percentage Of
saccharine matter. In no case should mel
ous be planted the second year on land
which grew them the year before. At least
four years should intervene. giving time to
exterminaSe certain insects which would
seriously affect the second crop and also
20 give the land an opportunity TO recover
from the drain the melon crop makes on
the potash element Of plant food. I dis
cussed this question with On extensive
melon grower in middle Florida some
weeks ago. and he said that II none Of the
melons were allowed to remain in the
field and rot that a second crop could be
safely grown on the same ground, provid-
ed fertilizer rich In potash was used. But
planted new land every year. Experience,
which Is the hardest and best teacher has
clearly demonstrated that il IS safest to
rotate the crop and not risk a second
years planting on the same land. Perhaps
we may discover some day a means for
perpetuating the melon crop on the same
land as we do cotton. but IL Is neither
needful at this time nor Is IL safe 10 do so.
Preparation and Fertilization.
The soil should be well broken and
thoroughly narrowed. In sandy lands
light breaking Is preferable, though in
the stin red clay lands Of the more
northern belt IL would be better 10 break
deeper. going down below the hard pan
The roots OF the watermelon prefer 10
grow laterally. and make the best develop
ment when conditions are not such as 10
force the roots downward either in search
OF moisture or where the soil has been
deeply broken Pulverize the top soil with
the harrow until a fine, nice filth has
been secured. Following field planted the
year previously In COW peas win make the
soil soft and pliable. In laying on the
rows the distance should be gagged &C
cording 10 the fertility Of the land. on
very rich land where a luxuriant growth
OF the vine Is likely 20 be secured. a
distance OF 12x12 feet would not be too
much. though the average OF 10x10 feet
Is most frequently employed. The land
should always be checked so that the
hills win be eQuidistant apart Check the
plat BY running a light scooter furrOw
in both directions. then the rows into