56 



CHAP. IX. 

 ON THE GROWTH OF MELONS. 



It is barely possible to suppose any use to which a 

 structure which during the winter season had been de- 

 voted to the growth of Cucumbers, could be so legiti- 

 mately appropriated in the summer, as that of the growth 

 of the finer Melons of Persia, Cashmere, and the East. 

 The superiority of such as these, in every point of view, 

 over those kinds, which have been long in cultivation, 

 would be an ample recompense for the appropriation of 

 such valuable space to their use ; whilst in no other struc- 

 ture could the peculiarities of the treatment they require, 

 be so fully complied with, and be rendered so completely 

 under controul, as in that under consideration. 



There are some peculiarities in the treatment of these 

 Melons, to the consideration of which, it may be desir- 

 able to devote a brief space ; the most important of these, 

 are the composition of the soil, the application of mois- 

 ture at the root, the regulation of atmospheric warmth, 

 and also, of atmospheric moisture ; in these particulars, 

 they offer some differences to what has been previously 

 stated, with reference to the Cucumber. 



The soil in which the Melon delights to grow, is one 

 of a more compact texture than is usually regarded as 

 applicable for the Cucumber: a suitable compost consists 

 of the " top spit" from a loamy pasture, of a texture 

 rather adhesive, and retaining the herbage and roots of 

 the grass ; this should be collected a few months before 

 it is used, so that these vegetable substances may be in 

 a decaying state, and it should be broken roughly to 

 pieces, but by no means sifted ; to it, should be added, 



