SECT. XIV. OF RAISING MELONS. 19S 



it comes up weak, and is apt to rot, when the mould is 

 not fufhciently dry, and the feed bed not very warm. 

 If nezu feed only can be had, it mould be carried a 

 week or two in the breeches pocket, to dry away fome 

 of the more watery parts : The earlier the feed is fown, 

 the older it mould be. Melon feed may be fown in a 

 cucumber bed, that is in a brifk heat, in pots plunged 

 towards the middle; but a bed mould be ready to move 

 the young plants into before the cucumber bed gets 

 too cool. Sow only three or four feeds in each pot, and 

 cover a little more than half an inch : The earth in 

 which the feed is fown, fliould not be fo ftrong as that 

 in which the plants are to grow for fruit. When the 

 feedlings are three or four days old, take them up 

 carefully, fo as not to break any of the roots, and either 

 plant one in a fmall pot, or two in a little bigger; but 

 depend on no plants which do ftot appear healthy and 

 ftrong. Sow a few feeds every four or five days, left 

 accidents happen to deftroy the firft plants. 



.As melons require (kill, and occafion trouble to raife 

 them, the greateil pofhble care mould be taken that the 

 feed is of a good kind. Melons mould never grow near 

 cucumbers, elpeciallv if for feed, as the farina of the 

 cucumber may impregnate the bloffom of the melon, 

 and give it a watery flavour, or quite alter the nature 

 of it: Do not fow foreign feed, except for experiment. 



Though melons may be fown in a cucumber frame, 

 that is in a good heat, yet rather make a feed bed, of 

 about three feet thick ; and having put on the frame 

 and light, tilt the glafs a little, and when the great heat 

 is abated, put on fome dry, rich, and fine, but not xtry 

 light earth, to the thicknefs of four inches all over ; 

 and the next day, if the mould is not too hot, fow the 

 ft ed fome in the beds, and fome in pots, placed juft in 

 the middle, which may be drawn up out of the way of 

 any burning heat. 



When the plants appear, give them air, and beware 



of tanc'id fleam from the glafles dropping on them! 



K They 



