/:-.

:3 Liec a gc: .~iade of :oil ar -'t possible f:x-igate it .ith methyl brCudde.
.Tir can be done by -piing the soil about a -:.ot deep and applying two
pou-.As of methyl brc-ide per hundred cubic feet of soil. Leave the soil
covemre for 58 hours and then all o 72 more hours before using the soil.

2. Pla~. e ate rmelon sead that has been. treated for damp-off.

3., Iate of seeding into peat potr h to be '".-'.e.-daed by the grc',er e~.a his
willingness to Zsmble with frost. We woaull -L.gest that he allow four
vaet.s froi tme of seedinZ int o pcat pots to Lime for transplanting to
the field.

I. Ab"c.'.t L.bhre zeais per pot should 1 e -plant:.... removing one as it is being
tzLerulanted. in the field.,

5. Peat ots shou.i he placed adjacent: to each 'cther in a cold frame structure
that ':- be cc.-rea with clear plac-t.l'. Cover the plants during cool,,
o- ~. ay .1 periods of thre.'tcr'.ag fre"ts and freeze. During periods
o. a m, .i2--Mlny &Lay remove the p.', stic and allow the sun to hit the
PW'.a.L, 'ie vould not suggest ilaci..- these pots in a cold frame under an


6 rigtion oi watermelon plants in peat pots is extremely Important arln
Qie gcrir should exercise soae care in this operation. The peat pots
s'elC d be ?orl atel.-r rmi. tened as soon as the seed is placed in them.
Ir.i.-.:i.- s3hol1,c be .30 regulated. -hat these pots are kept moist throughout
the w'vaie peri zd. If this is not ".xcimplished, the watermelon plant roots
,,111 u': 9peneI-ate tiniough the peat. In order to avoid possible damage
frao dnauq-off, ve would suage-t that the plants be irrigated early in the
ior.nig oan anshiny days. This wiuLd permit the soil surface to dry sane-
,haW, beforee cveiAng time,

7 -; o.. 'E.a-plAnti'.. I t %.C.u cL be a1vit.ble to apply a shot of
?! t C : and i. -6at6e the pots- 2avily. Mere are two reasons
-... .iz at '" t" ir: it --ow.ld reduce the possibility
..- .... and i:.,i it vwJ. ... that the peat po4 itself
is !ozpletely vet before it is traneple.nteL' to the field. Again let me
aut ion you that it is extremely easy to burn plants at this sta&e of
growth,

8 I hs-t 3 in pent pots in a cold frame should be sprayed two or three times
:'d ~.; Lbly more if needed vith a fungicide and insecticide as recommended
in ..:iular 193A.



HUME LIBRARY

SEP 2 o 1972


I.F.A.S. Univ. of Florida