Arizona republican., 1921-01-07
EXPERT TELLS BEST METHODS IF MELON
 GROWING IN VALLEY

Having learned that a large acreage l of melons will be planted in the Salt | river valley the coming season, and | by many people who have had no pre- vious experience in that line and who are in some cases planning to use land not suitable for melon growing, S. S. | Scull. secretary of the Union Melon Growers association. has written the following article for the benefit of all who are interested in melon culture
 By s. S. ScuII
 As many people will grow some melons this year who are new to the game or new to the growing of melons under conditions prevailing here, Il have thought it might be we'll to write an article for publication on this sub ject
 To begin with. fill your land with water. Choose the best land to be had, old alfalfa ground being best Flow deeply and do it now. or just as early as possible. Then before plant ing, blow again in narrow back fur rows six to eight feet wide. This leaves you the furrows for irrigation and the high ground to run your vine upon.
 The vines should never grow on flat ground or melon lie where water floods them. as a melon lying on wet ground will nearly always rot and
 sometimes not until after being loaded in cars. in which case much loss and trouble may result. After your ground has been thus furrowed and thrown up, some instrument, one made from a log will do, should be run through the furrows to smooth the clods and give uniformity to the furrow. This facili-
 tates the passing of water through the furrow and makes the planting pleasanter. Run water through the furrows to establish a water line. When dried out to the proper degree, plant your seed just at the water line
 This may be done with a hoe or shovel or with corn planter Use 10 to 15 seeds to every three feet to insure a good stand. When well up. thin to two vigorous plants to every six feet, or one every three feet. Use no water until necessary. If your land has been well filled with water they should not need water for from six weeks to two months. but should have frequent
 and thorough cultivation. I am great believer in the use of the hoe
 Your soil will have much to do with the matter of watering. Watch your plants and never let them wilt. When fruiting they will need ire
 quent and thorough watering. not Oftener than every six days and not l longer than eight days The best plan is to run the water through as i quickly as possible and then cut the stream down to just the volume that
 will keep it running through. Let it run until the moisture shows on the l land back of the hill This will usuaI1v take a couple of hours Common lath l cut in half. and nailed together with small finishing nails. makes good pipes ] from your feeding ditch. As soon as ! the ground will work well. cultivate | and hoe after every irrigation. Never l if 1t can be helped, let the ground cake ! hard around your young plants. As your vines grow, keep them turned up on the high ground away from the ditch. As the fruit sets lift melons out of furrow and place them ! above water for reason already stated
 If these simple directions are care
 fully followed you will have a good
 crop and will make some profit. On
 35 acres of my farm two years ago 2S
 cars were grown, and then they were
 not picked for eight days in the very
 heart of the season. Attend the melon 1 growers meeting to be held Saturday Jan. s, at the Water Users building and l learn about the plans for marketing | There, too, you may bring your oues- tions and be more fully answered than | you can be here.