IN COMMON DUNG BEDS. 79 



the laterals two joints beyond the fruit, and give 

 no water to the hills until the melons swell as 

 large as walnuts ; one only must be allowed on 

 each plant, and no more fresh breaks should be 

 permitted, from the setting of the fruit till it is 

 full grown : when this is the case, another fruit 

 may be allowed to set, so that only one fruit 

 shall be swelling on the plant at a time. 



The first crop will be fit to cut about the 10th 

 of May (if of a good Canteleupe sort) ; and if 

 well grown it will weigh from 3 Ibs. to 5^ Ibs. 



The second crop of one on a plant should be 

 progressing from the time the first attained its 

 growth to its being ripe. When the first crop 

 is removed, let the frame be raised four inches at 

 each corner, and the bed moulded up back and 

 front ; and the lining kept so high as to dry the 

 frame about an inch above the soil. The cover- 

 ing must be continued, as also the air as before 

 directed. Water whilst the fruit is swelling, 

 from ten to eleven o'clock as occasion may 

 require ; and it will be proper to shade during the 



