Newspapers / The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, … / March 22, 1906, edition 1 / Page 1
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- " ' . . - - ; PROGRESSIVE P THE COTTON PI l. 4R VOL. XXL NO. 6. -VOL. XXlIi. NO. 6. RALEIGH, N, C, MARCH 22, 1906. Weekly $1 a Year. : i r- i ! 1 v . V - . -J i,"-. . - 4 J :v - v V J. ! 4: ' if v .t , i S-T - ; Courtesy of M. V. Richards, L. & I. Agt. Sou. Ry ". TOBACCO MARKET IN WINSTON-SALEM. On page p we give the story of how the dark tobacco farmers of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia have doubled the prices of their product the plan by which the bright tobacco growers of Virginia and North Carolina are now to be organized in a strenuous struggle with the American Tobacco Company. CANTALOUPES, WATERMELONS AND CUCUMBERS. How to Prepare the Land, Seed and Fertilizer With Thorough Preparation the Crop is Half Made. Messrs. Editors : These crops are very much alike in every way. They are closely related in the plant world, all being cucurbits, and they are very closely related in their soil, climate and cul tural requirements. In a large measure, what may be said regarding one of them will apply equally to the others. This distinction must, however, be made that cantaloupes and water melons are esteemed for their ripe fruit while a. ripe cucumber is worthless for the table. And in consequence, cucumbers may be grown success fully on lands containing an amount of moisture which would be totally ruinous to the quality of cantaloupes and to a less degree to watermelons. Root Development. All these plants are vigorous growers and re tiuire thorough preparation of the soil. The ne cessity for this may be realized better when we say that the aggregate length of roots is many . times that of the vines, and a single root will be nearly or quite as long as the vine. The ground nnist be well pulverized and in a good state of tilth. This cannot be done without plowing the ground well and repeatedly harrowing it. Planting Distances. Cucumbers should be planted in rows about five feet apart, with the plants four feet apart in . the raws. The distance for cantaloupes should be five by five feet, five by six feet, or six by six feet, while watermelons should be given ten by ten feet, or twelve by twelve feet. When grown in frames, cucumbers may be planted three by four or even three by three feet. Preparation of the Land. Look well to the drainage of the land. It should be so drained that water will not stand on the surface long after a rain. Water scalds the vines. On the other hand, the soil should be put in such shape as to enable it to hold a large amount of water, because during their growing stage the plants should not suffer for moisture. Sub-soiling gives excellent results, but this should be "done two or three months before planting time, and that is now impossible. If the land is not well drained it may be ad visable to plant on ridges two to four feet wide, but on light, well-drained lands, by all means plant on the level. Begin early. Plow the whole area well, then follow with the disc harrow. . If there is not time to plow all the ground, then break the rows two or three feet for cucumbers and cantaloupes and four feet for watermelons and harrow or culti vate well, leaving the remainder to be broken later on. in the center of the row where the plants are to stand throw out two furrows, leaving a good deep furrow. Then with a bull tongue plow go cross-wise of these furrows, thus. marking off the places where the bills are to be. The land is now ready for the fertilizer. Fertilizers and How to Apply Them. It is doubtful whether a satisfactory crop of melons or cucumbers can be grown without the use of some stable manure ; certainly it cannot be as economically done without it as with it. . In ever case thoroughly well-rotted manure only should be used. It may be used alone or mixed with good woods' mould half of each. Three or four large shovelfuls of this mixture should be ,put at each hill, scattering it over an area o three or four feet square, or in the case of close ly planted cucumbers, distributed from end to end of the furrow. For frame cucumbers, the manure should be broad-casted and harrowed .in. Frequently, how ever, the cucumbers are planted after spring let-, tuce, in which case the manure may be omitted, a heavy application having been given in preparing the beds for lettuce. From half a' pound to a pound of good com mercial fertilizer should be applied in each hill, scattering it over the manure or compost. In the case of cucumbers and cantaloupes the amount may be reduced somewhat, for this application, the remainder to be put on later. But either of these crops will require from 1,000 to 1,500 pounds per acre on most soils for best results. After applying the fertilizer, throw the dirt back with the plow, filling up the furrow and leave it ridged or level as soil conditions may indicate, preferably the latter. Following this plowing, harrow the fertilized furrows thoroughly with a cutaway, or disc harrow, or cultivator, until the ground is thoroughly pulverized and put in the very finest possible condiiton. The marks be tween the rows made with the bull tongue will serve to indicate where the seeds are to be sown. In between two and three weeks the gTound will (Continued on Page 9.) i S ; 'A -8
The Progressive Farmer (Raleigh, N.C.)
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March 22, 1906, edition 1
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