MfeLONS. 55 



To prepare the ground, holes should be dug about 

 one or two feet square, and about as deep, and fill them 

 half full of long manure and garden mould, packed 

 down hard, and made very wet. The holes should 

 then be filled to the top with rich mould, into which 

 should be put about a dozen seed taken from the best 

 watermelon. Cover them with a layer of well rotted 

 manure. Over all put a thin layer of pure sand, 

 which should be kept watered. These holes or hills 

 should be- ten or twelve feet asunder, and when the 

 plants have come up and have put forth four or five 

 leaves, they should be seperated ; that is, the worst 

 plants should be taken out, leaving but three or four 

 of the best plants in hill. The sand mentioned, is 

 put over the seed to prevent the ravages of the yellow 

 bug, which may be removed and rich earth put in its 

 place, so soon as the bug disappears. If the season 

 be dry, use water liberally. 



When the plant has put forth six or eight leaves, 

 the centre shoot should be taken off, so as to cause 

 the vine to spread laterally. The lateral shoots, 

 however, should also be taken off, when six or 

 eight inches long. This will cause the vine to spread 

 still more. A very good plan is, to put some earth 

 on a leaf joint about every four feet, taking care not 

 to cover up the leaf. The joint covered, if well wa- 

 tered, will take root; which will give strength to, and 

 cause the vine to spread over the whole ground. No 

 male blossoms should on any account be taken off; 

 but all improperly formed melons should be thrown 



