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inches apart, and thinned to twelve inches. For a winter crop, 

 sowings may be made in March or April, and the plants transplanted 

 in rows. 



ROCK, OR MUSK MELON (Cucnmis mc/o). Cultivation. Rock 

 melons for the earliest crop may be raised on a hot-bed in July and 

 August, well hardened off, and planted out in September, or as soon 

 as the weather has become warm enough ; the plants should be 

 protected until well established. The soil for the rock melon should 

 be a good, rather strong loam, without manure, except a little to give 

 the plants a start. For the later crop, sow in September and 

 October in the open ground. The seeds should be sown in hills, 

 which ought to be from five to six feet apart, placing ten or twelve 

 seeds in each, and when the plants have two or three rough leaves 

 thin out to three or four inches. 



WATER MELON (Cucumis citrillus.} Cultivation. The water 

 melon requires a richer soil than the rock melon, and if well grown 

 will afford abundance of fruit without stopping the shoots or any 

 other manipulation being required. Every effort should be made to 

 get the fruit ripened early, for it is little valued except in hot weather. 

 A warm situation should therefore be chosen, and the plants raised 

 in heat in July and August, and grown strong before being planted 

 out, two or three on a hill, about eight feet apart. 



MANGO MELON, OR EGYPTIAN PROLIFIC VEGETABLE PEACH. 

 Cultivation. Cultivate in a similar manner as that recommended for 

 rock melon. Grows like a rock melon, branching out in dozens of 

 vines in every direction full of fruit and blossoms, commencing early 

 and lasting on till frost if watered in dry weather ; suitable for all 

 climates. Fried in batter, green, a substitute for egg plant. It is 

 also said to be superior to vegetable marrows, cooked in a similar 

 style if used before being too ripe. When ripe and yellow makes 

 beautiful, white, transparent preserves and sweetmeats, equalling the 

 celebrated California fruits and Japanese pie melon ; they are 

 just like an orange when ripe. The late fruit makes excellent pickles. 

 Young green ginger makes the best flavouring, and it does not colour 

 the preserves. 



MANGO MELON, OR VEGETABLE PEACH JAM. To every pound 

 of vegetable peaches allow three-quarters of a pound of the best white 

 sugar, and one pound of good, young, green ginger to every 8 Ibs. of 

 fruit. Mode : Cut up the fruit, taking care to scoop out all the pips 

 (using a spoon is best); weigh, and put into a china basin with the 

 quantity of sugar sprinkled on, and allow it to stand twenty-four 

 hours ; choose young ginger, wash carefully, and scrape off all the 

 outside skin ; then boil in an enamel pan for several hours in clean 

 water ; boil till you can stick a fork in ; then take out and cut up as 

 finely as possible ; this is imperative or it will spoil your jam ; mix 

 all together, and boil gently. It takes a long time to cook, as the 

 melon must be quite clear, and a thin skin must come over the jam. 

 This is ascertained by occasionally taking out a small spoonful and 





