THE MELON. 21 5 



sive than otherwise. The top 6 inches of an old 

 pasture that has been stacked in the compost-yard 

 for twelve months is to be preferred. For the pro- 

 duction of early melons, in the comparative absence 

 of sun, I do not recommend any addition of manure, 

 especially on dung - beds, as melon - roots generally 

 penetrate beyond the soil and feed on the manure 

 and leaves of which the bed is composed. Neither 

 do I recommend the soil for very early melons to be 

 so retentive as is desirable for their summer culture. 

 In preparing such soil for being put into the frames, 

 the turfy portions of it should be broken up with the 

 hand or with a spade, and the rough and fine portions 

 well mixed together. Wire-worms are most destruc- 

 tive to young melon-plants ; and if there be any in 

 the soil, it should be carefully examined and the 

 worms removed. As soon as the fruiting-bed has 

 begun to heat, place a ridge of the soil 1 foot deep, 

 about 2 feet wide at base, and tapering to 8 or 9 

 inches at top, along the centre of the frame. The 

 ridge should be pressed firmly with the hands as it 

 is formed, but not beaten with a mallet, as is fre- 

 quently the case, especially if it is heavy. On hot- 

 beds such as are now being considered, it is a safe 

 plan to place thin turfs, grassy side downwards, all 

 the length and width of the ridge of soil. It pre- 

 vents the likelihood of the roots of the plants being 

 burned by too violent a heat. All the remaining 

 surface of the bed should then be covered with 2 

 inches of the loam, rather firmly pressed down, 

 to prevent steam from escaping too freely into the 

 frame. As soon as the temperature of the ridge of 

 soil has risen to 80 or 85, and the plants are ready 

 to plant as already referred to, let them be carefully 



