20$ OF RAISING MELONS. SECT. XIT. 



Three (at the most four) melons are as many as 

 should be left to grow upon one plant ; and those 

 are best which are situated nearest the stem, as re- 

 mote ones are not so well nourished. Do not let a 

 great deal of vine grow below them, lest they be too 

 much robbed, and let them be stopped as before di- 

 rected, for nature pushes towards the extremity of 

 the shoot, and passing by the fruit below, forms more 

 above, sometimes to the total loss of the first set 

 fruit. 



Keep mould round the sides of the frame, to earth 

 up the plants to the very leaves, and round the hills, 

 (a little at a time) as the plants increase, and do 

 not earth all over the bed before it is necessary ; for 

 full earthing at too soon is apt to occasion burning, 

 and afterwards to damp the heat of the bed too 

 much, diminishing also the warmth of the atmos- 

 pheric air about the plants. When the bed is earthed 

 all over, press the mould all round the sides of the 

 frame, about six or eight inches wide, to make it 

 firm, that the roots may not get too soon to the wood, 

 and mat too much against it, which, occasions sick- 

 liness. 



Do not think of cultivating early melons, without 

 plenty of dung both for beds and linings. The par- 

 ticulars of management, concerning covering, shad- 

 ing, air, lining*, stopping the young plants, setting the 

 fruit, &c. and to guard against burning and steam- 

 ing, may be seen in the directions already given for 

 cucumbers ; only less air, and much less watering, 

 will do for melons. Keep them close shut down on 

 nights, when the heat of the bed is become mode- 

 rate, and also cover well. As melons are to be kept 

 rather Wry, they should be shaded a little in very 

 sunny weather by a single mat, for two or three 

 hours in the middle of the day ; i. e. when the sea* 

 son is forward, especially, if the bed itself be in 



