FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



CHAPTER XXVI 



MELON-GROWING IN THE HOUSE 

 Soil— Raising Young Plants 



RIPE Melons are eagerly sought as a table luxury, whether grown on the 

 farm or under glass, probably because there is no fruit more healthful 

 to the human system. For two or three months of the year the markets 

 are usually well supplied with the outdoor Melons. The earliest come from the 

 South, while the Northern-grown fruit finishes up the season. Our Southern 

 States have an ideal climate for the production of high-flavored Melons; Colo- 

 rado also sends her full quota of Rocky Fords, which are grown better there than 

 in any other State. A Rocky Ford grown in New York or New Jersey cannot 

 compare with the Colorado product. This shows plainlj- enough that soil 

 combined with climatic conditions has a wonderful eff'ect on the make-up of 

 the different fruits, in regard to quality, richness of flavor, etc. It is, however, 

 not my intention to discuss outdoor Melon culture here, more important though 

 it may be than my subject proper, the cultivation of Melons under glass. 



In producing Melons artificially, there is the satisfaction of having them 

 out of season, or when there are none in the market, at which time they will be 

 all the more appreciated. In a private establishment with a house suitable 

 for the purpose, ripe Melons may be had for Christmas. We have here an advan- 

 tage over our brother gardeners across the Atlantic, in getting much more sun- 

 light for our fruit, for Melons will not thrive without a fair amount of sun. 

 They have been cultivated for centuries both in the open and under glass. We 

 learn from early history that the Melon flourished and was abundant in Persia, 

 growing on the plains of Ispahan, and it is said to have been of excellent finish 

 and flavor — so much so as to attract the attention of the missionaries, who then 

 brought the seed to Rome. It was introduced into France about 1495, and 

 brought later to England. But here it was probably not grown with much 

 success until glass houses came into vogue. From that time on, howevei, it 

 has been improved to a wonderful degree, by careful selection and systematic 

 cross-fertilization. Within my time even the varieties that were leaders some 

 thirty years ago, such as Colston Basset, Victory of Bath, Gilbert's Green Flesh, 

 Beechwood, Bromham Hall, and a few others, equally well known then, have 

 passed. As with most other fruit, here also the hybridizers have been steadily 

 improving upon the varieties year after year. 



