710 THE farmers' handbook. 



Sowing and Cultivating. 



As a rule, about 2 lb. of seed will suffice for an acre (less will be required 

 in the case of squasb and marrow, -which have smaller seeds). Five or six 

 seeds are sown a few inches apart, in groups, and when the plants are a few 

 inches high they are thinned out to two in each " hill." 



Care must be taken to keep the soil well scarified to check the growth of 

 weeds and to conserve moisture, and these precautions cannot be discon- 

 tinued until the plants are running and able to cover the ground. 



It is a good plan to pinch back the runners in order to force the plants to 

 produce a dense mass of foliage over the roots, which will resist hot, dry 

 weather, and will also increase the production of fruit. 



In the case of pumpkins, both for table and fodder purposes, it is cus- 

 tomary to leave the fruit until the vines have died away. Table squashes 

 and marrows may be picked as required as soon as they become firm to 

 the touch and emit a wooden hollow sound when tapped with the knuckles. 



Storage. 



The keeping quality depends largely on the degree of ripeness. It will 

 be found that if left until it is difficult to pierce the rind with the thumb- 

 nail they will keep throughout the winter, providing they have been har- 

 vested with the short stalk attached. Pumpkins from early-sown crops keep 

 better than those from late* crops, as they have longer to ripen off. Care 

 should be exercised that the fruit is not bruised in handling. They should 

 be stored on slatted shelves in a dry, airy shed, and looked over from time 

 to time, any showing signs of decay being removed. 



MELONS. 



Water-melons, preserving melons, and rock melons are grown in practi- 

 cally the same way as pumpkins. Like all plants of the cucurbitaceoas 

 family, they are susceptible to frost, and require rich, warm, and thoroughly 

 well-drained soil. 



Soil and situations favourable to the production of maize will suit melons 

 admirably. They also do pretty well on sandstone ridges, but their culture 

 in such places should be limited to domestic purposes. Where melons are 

 grown for market, they should be planted in the open, where they can at all 

 times during the earlier stages of growth receive cultural treatment in the 

 way of checking of weeds and conservation of moisture. 



Owing to the ease with which all plants of this family are cross-fertilised 

 at the flowering stage by the agency of bees and other insects, it is difficult 

 to maintain purity if more than one variety is grown, and to avoid deteriora- 

 tion it is necessary to obtain from time to time fresh seed from reliable 

 sources. 



Water-melons. — For market purposes melons of fair size, firm flesh, and 

 good keeping qualities are preferred. 



The best-known varieties possessing these qualifications are Tom Watson. 

 Cuban Queen. Ice Cream, KohVs Gem, and Kleckley Sweets. 



Roch Melons.- — Many of the most delicate fleshed rock melons are bad 

 carriers. Emerald Gem may be mentioned as an excellent variety, but for 

 the reason stated elongated delicate varieties are not as profitable for market 



