Watermelon Patch Security

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We take our Watermelon Patch Security seriously in South Georgia. The scars on that melon on the table are from a deer trying to bust it. These melons came out of my garden. It used to be a big deal to have melons ready by "The 4th", but transplanting started plants in peat containers gives a week to 10 days edge. The largest of these melons will weigh between 22-28 lbs. The ideal size for shipping is 18-22 lbs, because they can get more on a truck.
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That hammer gun is a 12 gauge J. Stevens A&T Co. model 225. It was my wife's grandfather's gun. The GI .45 is from 1943. My brother bought it for $37.50 around 1965, and I traded him out of it a few years later. The Model 60 is one I bought from a State Revenue Officer about a year ago. It is an early 70s gun. It has been in my pocket nearly every day since.

All the pictured guns provide yeoman service as guardians of the Watermelon Patch. One needs to understand that Watermelon Patches hold a special place in most Southerners' hearts. Right at 100 years of Watermelon Patch Security is represented by these weapons.;)
 
Good lookin' melons you get there...

Pulled one outta the spring branch, busted 'er open and ate the heart right out of it...A many a time.

Su Amigo,
Dave
 
Ummmmmmmmmm, summah ham. What was the in ground date on those melons? Mine here in east TN are just now developing the stripes. I had to electric fence my garden to keep the coons, deer and other varmints out.
oldogy
 
An old gold miner I knew in the Sierra Nevada foothills years ago told me they planted gardens to harvest the veggies & meat that came to eat the veggies. His favotite garden harvester was a Win. Mod. 94 .32 Special.
 
Old watermelon farmer joke:

Farmer is tired of folks stealing his watermelons at night, so he puts up a big sign that says, "ONE OF THESE MELONS HAS BEEN POISONED. CAN YOU GUESS WHICH ONE?"

A few days later, he notices someone has added to the sign, "NOW TWO OF THESE MELONS ARE POISONED. CAN YOU GUESS WHICH TWO?"
 
Well, my father used to tell of one of the neighbors growing up where he and a couple of his friends used to go down the road and steal watermelons at night.

The old farmer caught on to this, and filled his watermelon patch with geese. Unfortunately, all three of them found out about this the hard way when they got flogged pretty darn good- the old farmer helped save them from being flogged within an inch of their lives. They worked a month for the old feller and paid for the watermelons they had taken.

He told me the moral of the story is to steal and eat the geese first, then take the watermelons. :D
 
Good job on those melons. They look like Crimson Sweets and with 100 degree temps throughout the country bet they are selling fast. :)

I used to deal with a couple of hustlin dump truck drivers that hauled melons from the Cordele market. Tough way to make a buck.

Ripe tomatoes by the 4th of July gets bragging rights in the Ohio River Valley. Here's one that goes over a pound protected by a 66-3, 3"barrel. Tomato came off a Celebrity plant and is larger than they usually run.

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A pound plus 'mater, now thats impressive. Ours are coming along but none near that big. Oh yeah, nice wheel gun too.
 
Got to thank my Mr McGregor electric fence and an early spring. Planted April 21 and had no bad weather along with timely rains. Fence runs on 2 D batteries. Squirrels are my main culprits and this keeps them out. The 18" back up fence is the key. The little buggers could easily jump the hot fence but for some reason they go nose first on the 18"er, investigating before they jump. That's when the jolt hits them and they get some gone in a hurry. Learn fast, too. :D

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"... electric fence..." D-sharp.

OR -- could it be you and the Vicster laying down interlocking fields of sustained fire with Mini-14's and PC4's against marauding wildlife?

I'm thinking the latter.

GF
 
About 40 years ago one of the kids down the street from me got a rear end full of rock salt fired out of a 12 gauge while trying to purloin watermelons from the local patch. Apparently stung like a hive of hornets, but didn't deter the genius and his buddies from trying again.
 
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