The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-04-07
CULTIVATION OF WATERDlEL0NS.
(By Haryie Jordan.)

It is now rather late in most sections
ordinarily to discuss planting watermel-
ons, but the weather so far has been SO
different from usual, early spring wealth
err. and farmers are generally so far be-
bind with their work, that doubtless
hundreds have not yet planted, and lit
tie information on the subject might be
of some help in planting the crop. |
shall not undertake to discuss the best
method of planting watermelons for mar
ket, but only to reach that class Of farm
ers who plan what is termed a patch
for family and home use. The large grow
ers in the Southern sections OF the cOun-
try have no doubt already planted or
at least have prepared and fertilizeG their
lands preparatory for the crop Every
farmer makes the attempt annually 10
grow Watermelons for family use In
many instances fine melons are grown,
while in many others success is not al
ways met with. Failure to produce good
melons may result from a variety of
causes Generally the trouble is, or may
be attributed to, careless or hasty prep
aration OF the land, improper Fertilization
and a failure to use good seed of a pure
type. The best melons raised in the
United States are those produced in Geor-
gia. This seems to be the verdict of all
sections of the country where water
melons are shipped for the open market.
Melons which are planted for shipping
purposes are not nearly so good as the
tenderer melons which are usually grown
for family use. If the Northern and
Eastern markets could get the best type
of melons raised in the South, cut fresh
from the vine and full ripe, the already
famed reputation Of our melons would be
largely increased. Some day when trans
portation companies can furnish refrig-
orator cars for this crop the tenderest
varieties may be shipped in place OF
the hard rind kinds pulled before ma
turity such as the Kolb Gem Our
best melons cannot now be shipped be
cause the rind is too thin to stand the
rough treatment of the ordinary freight
box and the present method of shipment
in bulk.
SOIL AND LOCATION
For small patch there is always some
desirable spot on the farm which can be
selected that meets the soil requirements
of the crops. A light, gray, We'll drained
soil is the best which can be selected
for this purpose, having a warm, south
/ y
good sized melons grow must be We'll
drained and not boggy. My best eXper-
ience in raising watermelons has been
in the selection of a piece of land on the
undersde of a field where a considerable
portion of top soil had accumulated, and
upon which had grown heavy thcket of
blackberry bushes This was cleared and
! planted in Gray Jacket" melons, and
/ the finest crop ever raised by the writer
was grown that year. However, the
watermelon will accommodate itself to
almost any kind of soil if the proper plant
4 foods are present to meet the demands
of the crop. In addition to this the land
must be placed in proper condition and
prompt cultivation had.
i The soil should be thoroughly plowed,
though not necessarily deep, and har-
rowed we'll. To make good growth the
| plants must be able to :easily and rapidly
penetrate the soil in search Of plant food
and moisture. The richer the land, the