274 AMERICAN HUSBANDRY. 



MELON. Cucumis Meio. 



This delicious vegetable grows wild in Asia, and 

 attains a perfection in Bokhara. Herat, and (-abul 

 unknown to other parts of the world. The best 

 melons of Africa are grown on sandbars left by the 

 subsidence of the waters of the Nile ; and the Isle 

 of C-yprus furnishes the best to Europe. The cool- 

 ing and salubrious qualities of the melon rende^rit a 

 deserved favourite in all countries where it can be 

 produced. 



The ground may be prepared for melons early m 

 May, by manuring with compost and thorough dig- 

 ging. For the Musk or Cantelope Melon, dig holes 

 six feet apart each way, twelve inches deep, and 

 eighteen inches over, into which put six inches 

 of old, rotten dung, then four inches of earth, and 

 mix them thoroughly together ; then put on more 

 earth until a slight elevation is made, on each of 

 which ten or a dozen seeds may be sown two inches 

 apart, and covered with earth half an inch deep. 

 Three vigorous plants will be enough for each hill, 

 and they must be thinned down to this number. 



WATERMELON. Cucurhita Ciindlus. 

 The Watermelon, though possessing many of the 

 characteristics of the former, belongs to a different 

 genus of plants, having a similar origin, and being 

 most famed in the countries noticed as being cele 

 brated for the Muskmelon. Watermelons require 

 a very rich, light soil, abounding in vegetable mould, 

 and by manuring made as fertile as possible. The 

 hills should not be nearer than seven feet, and the 

 planting and general culture may be the same as for 

 the Muskmelon. We have known fine melons 

 grovi'n by making a long pile or mound with manure 

 taken fresh from the stables, allowing it to slightly 

 heat, then covering it with good loam and reversed 

 turf, into which the seed at the proper time of sow- 

 ing were put. This method has been found success- 



