68 ON THE CULTURE 



there is no particular necessity for fruit so early, 

 the beginning of February is a preferable season 

 to sow, when they will be ready to cut by the 

 latter end of May or the beginning of June. 



The Early Cantaloupe is the best sort for an 

 early crop. Let them be sown in leaf mould, 

 about eighteen or twenty seeds in a forty-eight 

 size pot ; immediately apply water, and plunge 

 the pots in a good sharp heat. As soon as the 

 seed makes its appearance, which will be in the 

 course of about three days, if it is good, un- 

 plunge the pots and give them a little water. 

 In two or three days more they will be fit to 

 pot off, which ought always to be done when 

 about a week old, as they strike much more 

 freely when potted off young. Let the soil for 

 potting off the plants be half leaf mould, and 

 half light loam or bog earth. 



The best season to sow for a second crop is the 

 beginning of March, and well calculated for the 

 Stroud Rock, Scarlet Rock, White-seeded Rock, 

 Green Flesh, and, in fact, many others of nearly 



