cue 



cue 



the course of six or seven weeks from the time 

 of its setting, and should be cut as soon as ever 

 it has obtained that state, as when delayed much 

 of the fineness of flavour is lost. The signs of 

 maturity are a sort of cracking at the base about 

 the stem, having a fine yellow colour, and 

 affording a fine fragrant smell, with a degree of 

 softness about the top. It should be cut with 

 a portion of the stem, and laid in a dry airy 

 situation till wanted for use. 



The author of the Scotch Forcing Gardener 

 observes, that many of the early sown kinds are 

 capable of " producing a second crop, equal 

 both in quantity and quality to the first." With 

 this intention he advises, that after the first crop 

 has been cut, the vines be " shortened back 

 to the last live joint on each ; the beds being 

 well watered, and protected from the effects of 

 the mid-day sun for eight or ten days, at which 

 time the plants will begin to push forth afresh, 

 and show fruit in plenty." 



Ciillme taicler Hand or other Glasses. — It is 

 sometimes the practice to raise Melon crops on 

 ridges under hand, or other sorts of glas.ses, 

 especially when the season is fine. 



The ridges in this ease must be formed with 

 good prepared stable-dung, in the same manner 

 as practised in forming those for Cucumbers; 

 and also moulded or earthed into small hillocks 

 in the same way, only rather more earth should 

 be employed in these cases. 



The plants may be raised in the seed or other 

 beds, and be carefully nursed in a similar me- 

 thod, till they are in a proper state of growth 

 to be set out, which in this sort of culture 

 should not be done till towards the middle or 

 latter end of May, according to the state of the 

 season. 



The pots of plants should be set or ridged out, 

 one on each hillock, in the same mode as' those 

 of the Cucumber kind ; shade and a slight water- 

 ing bping given at the time, and the glasses im- 

 nicdiatclv put on. 



After being thus planted out, the same care 

 and maiiagement are necessary as in the other 

 cro]is, in respect to air, water, covering in the 

 nights and bad weather, training and stop- 

 ping the plants, as well as in moulding up the 

 spaces between the hills, and the application of 

 linings when required. When the vines begin 

 to fill the glasses, they should be trained on the 

 outside of them, the glasses being raised, but still 

 left u])()n the plants, protecting the vine on the 

 outside as nuich as possible from wet when 

 the season is bad. 



The same directions are applicable after the 

 setting of the fruit, till it beconies in a slate for 

 emitting, as in the fri'.iiie crops. 



Culture in Flued Pits. — This method, as has 

 been already remarked, is principally made use 

 of for raising late crops of this sort of fruit. 



Theplants forthis]nirposemay be raised in hot- 

 beds, or under hand or other glasses, till they are 

 of a suitable growth to be planted in the pits. 



It is sufficiently early to commence this sort 

 of culture about the middle or latter end of June, 

 as at this period but little bottom heat will be 

 wanted ; the old beds that have produced other 

 crops may be converted to this use. The Scotch 

 Forcing Gardener directs, that one-third new be 

 mixed with the old tan or dung in order to renew 

 the heat, levelling the whole to the bottom of the 

 lluesquite round. Turfing is considered as unne- 

 cessary, but mould should be applied to the thick- 

 ness of about fifteen inches, so as to raise the 

 whole surface to the height of the tops of the flues. 



When the beds are thus prepared, the plants 

 should be put in, in a line along the middle of 

 them in the pits, at the distance of about two 

 feet from each other, care being taken to keep 

 their roots as much as possible from reach- 

 ing the tan. See Bark-Pit. 



In their after-management, the plants require 

 the same care according to the season, both in 

 regard to air, water, training, stopping, and 

 impregnating, as has been directed for the crops 

 in the frames. 



Towards the latter end of August or begin- 

 ning of the following month, when the heat of 

 the beds in the pits begin to be deficient, and 

 there is nmch moisture and cold, it will mostly 

 be requisite to have recourse to the aid of fire 

 heat, in order to fully maturate such fruit as is 

 not already ripened. The fires should at first be 

 slow, and only made in the evenings; but after- 

 wards increased, as the severity of the season de- 

 mands, so as that it may raise the heat of the air 

 in the pits to about seventy degrees of Fahren- 

 heit's thermometer in the evenings and mornings 

 about eight o'clock. Mr. Nicol directs, that 

 in order to admit air suflieiently, and keep up a 

 proper degree of heat in dull hazy weather, 

 a hltle fire should be made in the mornings; 

 and that as the growth of the plants is now over, 

 w:iter shinild be made use of with much caution, 

 being wholly discontinued as soon as the fruit 

 has attained its full growth. 



The seed employed in the culture of this sort 

 of fruit should be such as is taken from the 

 best plants of the most curious varieties, and 

 which has been perfectly ripened, and preserved 

 for one or more years m some dry place. New 

 seed seldom aiiswer well in cultivation. 



The Aearus or Red Spider, is an insect that 

 fre(]ucntly does much iniury to the Melon when 

 the season is dry and there is a dry heat in the 



