Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-11
NORTH CAROLINA RAISING
WINTER CANTALOUPEs
Development Agent OF Seaboarsi
Tells of What Has Rcrn
Done.
is PLANTED ABOUT JUNE
Thrives Best In Sandy Loan Soil.
Harvesting Takes Place in Sep
TENDER and Octoher-Age Im-
proves the Flavor.

! Down in North Carolina. that is to
say. in certain parts OF the Old North
State that are protected from frost
by the mountain ranges. they arc be-
ginning ~ rrow things in the fall and
winter seasons that formerly were sup
posed 10 bloom only under hot sum
mer suns. For instance. II. r. rrosser
assistant Development agent OF the
new agricultural and developmen,al
department OF the Seahoavd Air Line
Railway. writes The Times Dispatch
from his headquarters NJ Hamlet.
y c. that the winter cautaloupe is
going To be "a hir asset down in that
section.
Mr.. ProSscr says;
The winter cantaloupe is planted
about June !. From three to six seed
are placed III u hill. and are covered
with about three inches Of soil The
hills should 10 about six TO eight feet
apart. In rows five feet apart
This melon thrivcs best in q sandy
loan soil. rich in hunus. soil which
is quick and responds readily to good
treatment. DO not plant in a garden
spot. y fertilizer analyxing eish, parts
OF rhosrhoric acid. five parts Of nitro
fen and seven parts OF potash. or a
high-Grade fertilizer. will be suitable
for this crop when applied at the rate
OF 500 10 SEQ pounds per acre Work
fertilizer into the soil thoroughly about
each hill"
The cultural methods" continues
Mr. Frosser. are about the same IA
for any other cantaloupes. except that
this melon can he grown with or with
out irrigation or constant watering.
49,
MELON Requires LONG
GROWING SEASON
Continuing Mr.. Prosser says: After
thorough experiments in the CarolinaS
for two years, we have found that this
melon requires long growing season.
Al two points melons have been grown
and stored from September 10 the lat
ter part Of ovember Commence sur
face cultivation as soon as the plants
appear, and continue at short Intervals
until vines cover ground no not move
vines for purpose Of cultivation The
vine Is hardy and prolific. Harvesting
takes place in September and October.
and should be done just before melons
set ripe. The melons are Immediately
stored in cool. dark, dry cellar, oil
similar place. whore they keep during
the winter. When YOU want TO ca,
the melon place il in the sun AMI
within few hours IL Will have changed
from dark green 10 IA yellow color.
u Is then ready for the knife, pepper
and salt. sugar or straight. just as YOU
prefer II. Taste partakes Of the ma
ture OF both the cantaloupe and the
pineapple. Rind is crinkly and thin,
flesh about two inches thick. and is
tender and OF pale green color AEe
improves the flavor OF this delicious
fruit. size OF the lope from one and
one-haif 20 four pounds
I'm sections of New Mexico and
California this melon Is being sue
cesstully and proh,ab grown. and we
are hopeful OF developing the Cassaba
melon industry along the Seaboard Air
Line Railway, passing through the
famous sandhill section of the Caro-
linas"
Mr.. Prosser adds this postscrip,:
This ONCE has secured some seed
through the Carolina Seed Company.
Inc, Hamlet y. C., and will he glad
10 supply seed TO people along The
seahoard VINO are interested in trying
the tassaba melon This year. We are
encouraged with the good results OH
ta!n"h during past TWO years by grow
ers A. Hamlet. Hoffman and Lemon
Springs who We're successful with small
area "f 'Sssahas The demand for this
winter "an.aloupe is very good in the
Eastern markets, and we will assist
you IN MARKETING any melons grown
along the Seaboard''