The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-29
Agricultural Department
CONDUCTED BY FULTON s. WHITE.


matter of experiment, and an experiment
which scarcely ever pays. from the fact
that the change from the protected sit
uation to an exposed one is so great that
all growth of the plants becomes checked
or stopped, and the plants are so slow In
getting a second start that it is always
best to prepare the soil well as here d.
rected, and plant in open ground where
as stated when the weather and soil be-
comes properly warm the plants will
grow like weeds Not only this, but
plants which have been started in boxes
do not, as a rule. bear fruit so long or so
much; SO that after years of observation
and experience we are forced to the con-
clusion that there is nothing to be gained
by starting vine crops in boxes or hot
beds, except lots of hard and useless
work.
Manner of Planting.
The common practice of planting can
teloupes is to mark off the land five or
six feet each way, make hills at the cross
ings of the marks and plant. This gives
a distance of five or six feet between the
rows, each way, which, of course, makes
the cultivation cheaper, but this plan is
generally a waste of land for not more
than two vines should be left to the hill,
and at six by six feet, this would give
about three thousand plants per acre.
Now If the seed is planted in drills. In
stead of hills, and leave one plant every
fifteen to twenty-four inches apart, this
would give a third more at least both
in plants and in fruit, while the cost of
cultivation would be but slightly In
creased. In planting in drills instead of
in hills, the soil must be made very fine,
marking off the rows six feet wide, fur
row out, and throw up bed the same as
for cotton. Smooth this bed off until
it is only a few inches above the level,
then drill the seed in rather thick or
where one does not have a seed drill the
furrow in the seed bed may be opened
with the corner of a hoe and the seed
dropped by hand, eighteen to twenty-four
inches apart. according to the richness
of the soil.
Always put In a sufficient quantity of
seed so as to secure a perfect stand right
from the start as the cost of the seed is
small matter compared with the delay
and work of replanting. Cover the seed
shallow and with the foot, or back of
hoe, press the soil firmly on the seed. as
this will insure quick generation. Where
the seed are planted in the hills the same
rule may also be applied, that of putting
Il plenty of seed and firming the soil over
them. As soon as the plants are up and
nence, and this be kept up as the plants
grow until but two strong plants are left
in the hill, or one every eighteen or TWEEN
ty-four inches in the drills
Cultivation.
Where the land has been we'll prepared
as here directed, the work of cultivatine
after the vines are up will be but small
matter, as only regular and shallow cul-
tlvation is necessary, nearly all of which
may be done by use of our improved horse
hoe. and the work of the hand hoe be
greatly reduced. However, 1t is nearly al
ways necessary to do some work with the
hand hoe.
No cultivation should ever be performed
when the soil Is wet, or when the vines
are wet, either with dew or rain, but both
the soil and vines Should be dry at time
of cultivation and, as stated, only very
shallow stirring of the soil is needed. All
the cultivation should be finisheu bv the
time the fruit begins to set and finished
when the vines cover the soil. The thing
to do in the cultivation of all vine crops
is to commence when the plants are small
and work from them as they grow, dis
turbing or moving the vines just as little
as possible-in fact, the vines should
never be handled or turned for cultiva-
ton, but allowed to run at will and work
from them as they grow.
But here is another point to be observed,
which is that the cultivation should not
be delayed until the plants are up. but
this work Of cultivation should commence
at once by using the horse hoe between
the rows, thereby keeping the soil clean
and in fine, mellow condition.
Insects.
The most destructive insect we have to
contend with in all vine crops is the
striped cucumber or vine bug. These
come In great swarms in some sections.
where they soon destroy a crop of vines
Unless one is on the close lookout as
they do their work quickly and at time
when the plants are too tender to resist
their attacks.
But these bugs may be driven away
quickly by the use of the following mix
ture: Equal parts of slug shot and air.
Stacked lime, and to this add a liberal
supply of tobacco dust-say for every ten
pounds of the above mixture add not less
than four pounds of the tobacco dust Mix
all well together and dust this on or over
the vines In the morning early before hun
rise' when there is a heavy dew on the
vines. Repeat this for few times as
often as the bugs reappear, but usually
two dustings will answer The mixture
Is also good fertilizer and stimulates the
growth of the plants. 1t may be well to
explain here what slug shot is and where
1t may be obtained. Slug shot is a patent
insecticide and is kept for sale by all our
leading seed dealers. from whom 1t may
be obtained at from cents to 10 cents per
pound.
Plant Lice.
In some sections plant lice have been
source of trouble to all vine crop grow
ers, and these lice often attack cante-
loupe crops, and in some cases will de-
stroy the crop entirely. unless we'll look
ed after. These lice are very difficult to
manage as they feed entirely on the sap
of the plants and feed on or from the
under side of the leaves so that they are
very hard to reach.
KEROSENE emulsion or tobacco tea will
XIII them If any way can be devised for
applying these solutions. The soil when
Kept clean and fine. forms a dust mulch
This dust when II rains will cover
over the under side OF the leaves where
the lice feed and thus smother them to
death. This way the crop Is often saved
Now for a more complete treatise on in
sects and how to fight them. we refer the
reader to our treatise on insects found
In another bulletin, for this will give
more detailed information on the subject
Mice.
Frequently mice get into the hills, dig
out and destroy the seed. thus preventing
n stand of plants. They often destroy the
entire crop, and this must be looked after
closely. The mice may be easily killed by
the simple and inexpensive method of
poisoning Hubbard squash seed with
strychnine and scattering n few of these
poisoned seed over the field. Split the
squash seed with knife. putting in
very small quantity of the strychnne
then press the two halves of the squash