Melon. Mint. 229 



condition of the fruit which should be three-parts grown, cauli- 

 flower plants may be set amongst the melon vines, 2ft. apart. 

 As the Melons mature, water is withheld to promote ripening, 

 but as soon as the fruits are gathered the ground is cleared of 

 frames and vines and the cauliflower plants are given a good 

 watering. There is thus a crop of cauliflowers immediately 

 following the Melons, and they should be ready for market in 

 September. 



Varieties : For the forced and early crops, Prescott Early 

 Frame and Early Black Rock. For moderately early and 

 main crops, Large Rock Prescott Cantaloup, Silvery Prescott 

 Cantaloup, and Parisian Cantaloup. 



M 



MINT. 



Mentha viridis. 



INT (known also as Spear-mint, Pea-mint, and Lamb- 

 mint) is a very popular herb ; it can be made a source 

 of considerable profit when grown and forced for market, and 

 its culture should never be omitted by the grower who does a 

 direct trade. 



The plant, which is a perennial, will grow in 1 almost any soil, 

 but thrives best in one which is damp, cool, and fairly rich. 

 It is propagated by division of the creeping roots in October 

 or March, or by cuttings dibbled in during the early part of 

 the summer. When the former method is adopted lay the 

 roots thinly in wide drills, 3m. deep and 12in. apart, then cover 

 with soil and make all level. In the latter case set the cuttings 

 Sin. apart in the row and 1ft. between the rows. Water well 

 in dry weather. The soil should be quite free from weeds, as 

 a plantation is difficult to clean when the Mint begins to grow 

 freely, and when choked with weeds it soon becomes useless. 

 In the autumn cut down and burn the tops and cover the bed 

 all over with 2in. of well-decayed manure. 



A bed, if properly attended to, will last in good condition for 

 several years, but in gardens where the growing of mint is 

 made a regular feature it should form part of the regular 

 rotation. If a fresh bed is laid down each year, one can be 



