CULTIVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE WATER MELON. 



The whole natural order, Cucurlifacece, of which the Water Melon is but an in 

 dividual variety, are so proue to fertilize with each other that when grown in company 

 with Messrs. Pumpkin, Squash & Co. they become so altered in general appearance 

 that we very much doubt if that renowned member of modern society, ''A Philadel- 

 phia Lawyer," could guess which would be the original package to sow for a future 

 progeny, without being sorely puzzled. 



Not but that we now and then run across an old-fashioned Black Spanish or Sweet 

 Mountain, true to name and in their proper character, but then 'tis like angels' visits, 

 few and far between, and like them must be considered as something very novel, and 

 exceedingly rare. I would not wish to depreciate the character of our honest seeds- 

 men, many of whom do all in their power to give their customers those varieties 

 which are true to name and quality, but as they are often left to the tender mercies 

 of other parties for a supply, and the above-named peculiarities not having been at- 

 tended to, from the near proximity during blooming of those nearly allied subjects, 

 it often so happens that what should have been a favorite Sweet Mountain or Black 

 Spanish of fourteen to sixteen pounds, with solid and eatable flesh to the rind, only 

 proves a trifle superior to what Pumpkin pies are made from, and so large that a 

 wheelbarrow has to be brought into requisition to convey the tough body from the 

 place of its former development. The improvement of the Water Melon in a great 

 measure rests with the "Gentlemen's Gardeners" and amateurs, who may be con- 

 sidered as the pioneers of the Horticultural army, and who, by putting their 

 "shoulders to the wheel" with a hearty good will as to saving seed from the best in 

 shape and most highly flavored, would, in a few seasons so far improve them for the 

 better that the "Oldest Inhabitant" would turn up his eyes with delight at the very 

 idea of tasting a genuine Water Melon. 



The Water Melon may then fairly claim to be classed A. 1 in the estimation of 

 the "million," and should be strictly prohibited from being seen in company with 

 any plants belonging to the same natural family. 



Having made selection of a spot for your Melon patch, you will greatly benefit 

 your ground and forward yourself, by manuring in the fall, instead of stopping till 

 the busy spring time commences, and you find you have a dozen things want attend- 

 ing to at once. After giving your ground a middling coat of manure, dig it well 

 two spits in depth, throwing it up in ridges to enable it to receive the benefit of a 

 good sharp frost, which will mellow and sweeten the soil, besides destroying millions 

 of insects in the embryo state. 



The last week in April, or the first in May, is the most desirable time to sow your 

 seed; having levelled and forked over the ground that was manured in the fall, com- 

 mence by marking ofi" your plot into squares nine feet apart each way — dig out the 

 soil two feet square, spreading it equally all round, then fill up the boles with good 

 rotten manure, and the top spit from an old pasture in equal quantities, well mixed 

 and broken with the spade is the best, but any good, light, moderately rich soil will 

 do ; fill the holes six inches higher than the surrounding ground ; over these place 

 your Melon boxes and sow from eight to ten seeds in each. If you have not 



