Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-07
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
BY DR.. ANDREW NJ. SOULE

! structive fungus diseases may be
held in check. The best sugges-
tions relating to these various propo-
sitions have, therefore, been assem-
bled and correlated by the horticul-
ture. All who are interested in the
cultivation of watermelons will prof
it by reading these advices and plac-
ing them in their files for future
reference.
There is very little, if any, profit
in growing late melons lacking in
quality. On the other hand, the
grower who produces a quality prod
uct and gets it on the market early
seldom fails to make good profits.
For this reason care should be tax
en- in selecting a field which is in
good condition; one which has been
built up by turning under crop
of Brabham or Iron cowpeas or from
other legumes, or by heavy applica-
tions of manure the year before.
Watermelons prefer a warm, light,
sandy, well-drained soil. In no case
should a low-lying field which is in
clined to be wet be selected. Water
melons are a much favored crop for
new grounds. Second year new
ground is best because the soil is
in better condition. Crop rotation Is
most important with Watermelons.
It is necessary where certain dis
eases infest the soil. In most of the
commercial watermelon growing dis
tricts it is best to select land not
previously used for this crop and
not exposed to contamination by
drainage water or from old water
melon fields.
Land infested with root knot
should be avoided. Land should be
pIowed in the fall if possible. In the
spring lay off ten-foot rows. The
usual distance apart of the hills IS
ten feet. Complete fertilizer should
be used at the rate of one to two
pounds per hill. The formula should
be $40 per cent phosphorus, As
per cent nitrogen and 3 per cent
potash. Where the ground is fresh
ly cleared and contains an abun-
dance of organic matter or if ma
nure is to be used in the hills, nj
trogen in the commercial fertilizer
may be reduced.
In fertilizing watermelons a por-
ton of the nitrogen should be in an
organic form such as stable manure,
cottonseed meal or tankage etc.
Fertilizer should be applied about ten
days before planting. Side appllca-
tions of nitrate of soda are not ad-
visable after the vines are running
freely.
There are two methods of apply
ing fertilizer; the hill method and the
furrow method. In the hill method
the fertilizer is spread in circle of
4 to feet around the hills. Then
the fertilizer is mixed thoroughly
with the soil and small hill two or
three inches above the level Of the
field is left. This method should be
used when the soil is not in good
condition or where the soil Is in
clined to be heavy. The furrow meth
cd is to drill the fertilizer in the
open furrow, mix it with the soil
by running two burrows with
scooter pillow through the furrow.
Then make a low bed, using either
two or four burrows and with a hoe
level off a place for the hill at the
intersection of the cross rows. This
will indicate where to plant. The
open furrow method is successful
only when the soil is in good con-
dition. 1t is, of course, the most
economical way of producing crop
of melons.
The Tom Watson melon is more
extensively used for commercial pur-
poses in this state than any other.
The Irish Gray is also much favor
ed melon but has a disadvantage of
being little later than the Watson.
About one pound of seed is re-
quired to plant an acre. Two or
three paintings should be made be-
ginning in south Georgia early in
March and repeating about one
week apart. In north Georgia the
paintings would come about two
weeks later than in south Georgia.
Plant to the depth of one to one and
one-half inches in light soils and not
quite so deep in heavy soils. After
all danger of frost is past, pull out
all vines except the two best. Later
when the vines begin to run free