CH. 6.] MELONS. 127 



to come to maturity, be made in the fame 

 manner, and a little flronger, turfed all 

 over, the fame quantity of old tan or light 

 fandy loam be laid on *, moulded and 

 planted in the fame manner, have air ad- 

 mitted freely, and kept moderately moift 

 till they begin to mew fruit. After this, 

 and till the fruit is fairly fet and begun to 

 fwell, be fparing in the waterings, efpeci- 

 ally in damp weather, and allb endeavour 

 to keep the bed as free of fleam as pot- 

 fible ; fhorten the vines which have fruit, 

 at two joints above it, and train thofe that 

 have none, in a regular manner, to the 

 length of feven or eight, and then flop them, 

 to make them pufh new vines, which will 

 generally mow fruit at the fecond or third 

 joint. 



When the fruit is fairly fet, water free- 

 ly till they have done fwelling and begin 

 to ripen, and then be very fparing, as too 

 much water at this time not only takes 



greatly 



* One-half flrong brown loam, a quarter light black 

 loam, an eighth vegetable mould, and an eighth ftable- 

 dung, will make an excellent compoft for Melons ; of 

 which quality is that I have ufed for many years> with 

 fuccefs. 



