SECT. XIT. OF RAISING MELONS. 203 



under hand glasses. From this crop that plant 

 which shews fruit first (under the same culture; 

 should be reserved for seed, judging that its early 

 disposition may be continued, and because the first 

 fruit of any kind (if uninjured) always produces the 

 best seed. 



Fix upon handsome fruit, and prefer that which is 

 placed lowest, or grows nearest the root. Leave no 

 more than one fruit for seed upon a plant, and let it 

 remain on the vines through August, or as much 

 longer as the weather will permit, to be very ripe : 

 when cut it off; and place seed cucumbers agaiusj a 

 south wall, till they appear decaying. 



When got rotten ripe, scoop out the pulp and seed 

 into some vessel, and stir it well up, which repeat 

 for several days; then let it be washed in two or three 

 waters, which will separate the pulp, and leave the 

 seed clean : spread it thin for two or three days, that 

 it may dry thoroughly, and putting it. up in paper 

 for use, keep it in a place free from damp. Let it 

 be every now and then examined and rubbed in a dry 

 cloth, and it may be kept so for several years, and 

 reckoned the better. 



OF RAISING MELONS. 



See Melon in the next Section. 



MELONS are raised much in the same way as 

 cucumbers. They should not, however, be thought 

 of so early, and from the middle of February to the 

 middle of : March will (for most persons) be soon 

 enough to sow them. The place where they are cul- 

 tivated should be well sheltered, so that the winds 

 may blow over the frames, as mentioned in the di- 

 rections about hot-beds. They require a stronger 



