AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 151 



bed about a month ahead, and the plants set out in the hills at 

 the time of first corn-hoeing, and, if necessary, covered with 

 hand-glasses. See page 35. 



Muskmelons, like all other vegetable productions that can 

 easily be varied by culture or neglect, have multiplied names ; 

 but the green citron, under some one of its many synonyms 

 or sub-varieties, is the only kind that it seems desirable to 

 raise. It is a netted, green-fleshed variety, regularly fluted, 

 or, as it is called, quartered, usually sub-globular in shape, but 

 sometimes varying almost to the cheese form. It is well known 

 in our markets, and its form and appearance, once seen, will al- 

 ways be remembered. Its quality, when of good stock and well 

 raised, can not be surpassed. 



No. 2 derived its name from the almost perfect similarity of 

 its form to that of a nutmeg, and, when first introduced, was a 

 melon of excellent quality ; but, by the carelessness or igno- 

 rance of cultivators, it has been spoiled by intermixture with 

 cucumber or pumpkin, and was superseded years ago by No. 1. 

 I notice it only because the green citron or Persian is some- 

 times erroneously called " nutmeg," from old association. 



No. 3, originally good, but not first-rate, includes all those 

 large mongrel varieties that are generally longish, smooth, and 

 yellow inside and out. They used to be eaten with the addi- 

 tion of sugar, or pepper and salt, according to taste or lack of 

 taste ; and, as Dr. Johnson said of the haggis, may be " pretty 

 good for hogs." It is mentioned only because the thing and 

 the name still lingers in certain districts among the relics of 

 the past. 



Muskmelons of the best quality are raised in rich and rath- 

 er light loam ; they should be planted in hills four or five feet 

 apart each way, and treated in their culture precisely as cu- 

 cumbers, which see. 



Melons are often gathered unseasonably, and are then nec- 

 essarily inferior. When fit for gathering, a glance at the stem 

 where it is set on to the fruit will show either a small quantity 

 of molasses-like juice exuding, or a slight cracking of the con- 

 nection between the stem and the fruit, and, on taking the fruit 



