222 KITCHEN GARDEN. 



in the open air. It is easy, by varing the time of subject- 

 ing the boxes to the increased temperature, to keep up a 

 succession of rhubarb stalks, from the period at which 

 kitchen apples become scarce or begin to lose their flavor 

 till green gooseberries come into season. 



Melons. 

 Under this common name are embraced both the Water- 

 melon and the Musk-melon, or Cantaloupe, although so es- 

 sentially different in botanical characters as to belong to 

 different families. 



Water-melon ( Cucurbita Citrullus). — This refreshing 

 tropical fruit perfects itself in the open air in almost every 

 portion of the Middle and Southern States, especially in 

 the latter. It requires a light sandy soil and plenty of 

 heat, and will not succeed in tenacious soils or cool situa- 

 tions. It is planted in hills, which, owing to the great 

 distance to which the runners extend, ought to be eight 

 feet apart. The seed are best when two years old, and one 

 ounce will be sufficient to plant from forty to fifty hills. 

 When wanted of very large size, but three or four melons 

 should be left to each vine. By such thinning they may, 

 in good seasons and situations, be brought to weigh twenty- 

 five and thirty pounds each. There are many varieties 

 known in the Philadelphia and New York markets, such 

 as the Carolina, Spanish, Long Green, Mountain Sweet, 

 White Imperial, etc. » These have all red pulp, and the 

 last-named is much superior to the others. There are other 

 varieties with yellow or light-colored pulp. 



Cantaloupe. — These come to great perfection in the 

 open air throughout the Southern and Middle States, where- 



