ART OF GARDENING. 55 



ground should be kept scrupulously clear of weeds. Pluck 

 off the first runner buds, to keep the vigor of the plants for 

 the fruit. Plant Melons by themselves, if you wish to "keep 

 the virtues of an individual kind, as the Melon mixes pollen 

 with all the Cucumber family. 



The Striped Cucumber Bug (Galereuca vittata) and the 

 Cucumber Flea Beetle, a little black, skipping insect, are 

 the enemies of the Melon. Use diluted alkalies, soot, and 

 lime. Mr. Downing has recommended the - use of guano, 

 sprinkling the soil just beneath the plants as soon as they 

 conie up, the pungent smell ridding the plant of its destroy- 

 ers, and giving it a fine start in the early part of the season. 

 (Fruits and Fruit-trees of America.) 



The culture of the Melon is easy, and of great productive- 

 ness, excepting in the most Northern States ; and the author 

 has eaten delicious melons grown at Bangor, Maine. 



Bits of slate and blackened shingles placed under each 

 melon are said to improve the size and flavor of the fruit. 

 (Mr. Downing.) 



The Green-fleshed Melon, in which class is found the 

 Citron and the Nutmeg, contains some of the- choicest and 

 most popular varieties. The oval, Yellow-fleshed, are in- 

 ferior in comparison to the round, Green-fleshed, above 

 mentioned. Mr. Downing has mentioned the Persian Mel- 

 on, of a thin skin and delicious flavor and honey-like flesh, 

 as a variety repaying the additional care of a hot-bed and 

 irrigation, or constant watering, and .careful mixture for the 

 making of soil. (Fruits and Fruit-trees of America.) 



Melon-seed, if good, will sink in water ; if worthless, it will 

 float on the surface. 



WATER-MELON (CucurUta Citrullus). 



The Water-Melon is cultivated in the same manner as 

 the Melon, excepting the hills are placed eight feet apart, 

 instead of six. 



