KITCHEN-GARDENING. 93 



have spread into branches, stop them by pinching off the top 

 of the first runner-bud. This will strengthen the plants and 

 promote their perfecting the fruit early. After this keep the 

 ground free from weeds by frequent hoeing. 



There are many varieties of the melon, highly esteemed in 

 Europe, which do not succeed in this country ; the gardener 

 should, therefore, plant only such as have been tested and 

 found to produce good fruit here, or our superior old sorts may 

 become degenerated. After a judicious selection is made, if 

 caution be not used to plant the different sorts remote from 

 each other, and from Cucumbers, Squashes, and Gourds, de- 

 generacy will infallibly be the consequence. To prevent the 

 ravages of flies, etc., see General Remarks, Chap. I. 



WATER MELON. 



MELON D'EAU. Cucurbita citrullus. 



The Water Melon, though by some considered a species of 

 the former, is a distinct genus of exotic plants. They afford 

 a very refreshing article of luxury in our warm summers. In 

 order to have Water Melons in perfection, you must fix upon 

 a piece of very rich, light soil ; prepare, plant, and manage it 

 in every respect as is directed for Musk Melon, only let the hills 

 be seven or eight feet distant every way. One ounce of seed 

 will plant from forty to fifty hills. 



Some persons, who have a soil as rich as manure can make 

 it, can never succeed in raising Water Melons, because there is 

 too large a proportion of clay in the soil. In order to raise 

 large Melons, a rich, sandy soil, or a sandy loam, is essential. 

 I have known Water-Melon seed planted where the ground 

 was so productive as to yield forty bushels of Wheat, or eighty 

 of Indian Corn per acre, when a Melon of fair size and quality 

 could not be obtained with the best of cultivation. 



