Cultural Directions. — 253 



first or second hoeing. Cultivate frequently with the horse 

 wheel-hoe, and hoe afterwards, drawing fresh soil up to the plants. 

 Guard against the attacks of the yellow-striped cucumber bug, 

 the squash borer and other insects ; and keep free from weeds. 

 I usually pinch off the ends of 

 leading shoots when they have 

 grown several feet in length, for 

 the purpose of forcing out the 

 laterals, on which the fruit is always 

 borne. In early September I also 

 remove the later settings of fruit, 

 which cannot be expected to conic 

 to maturity before frost. For ship- 

 ping and marketing, melons must 

 be picked when yet green, but fully 

 matured, so that they will be in 

 best condition for the table when 

 they reach the consumer. In order 

 to make the crop earlier, and at the 

 same time protect the plants from bug attacks, they are fre- 

 quently started on pieces of inverted sod, in hot-bed or cold- 

 Irame, in the same way as described for Lima beans. Care 

 should be taken to make the transfer from fram.e to open ground 

 on moist, cloudy days only; then cultivate same as directed for 

 plants started in open ground. 



Perfection. 



VARIETIES. 



long, 



Hackensack. — The most popular market sort among 



growers near New York City and 

 in New Jersey. Large, round ; 

 depressed at the ends ; deeply 

 netted and productive. 



Cassaba. — A large, 

 green-fleshed melon of same 

 excellent quality as Nutmeg. 

 Can be recommended for market, 

 as well as the home garden. 



Nutmeg. — Green-fleshed, of 

 delicious flavor. Size medium; 

 round in shape; prolific; good 

 for market and home use. 



Early Christiania. — Very 

 early, of fair size ; productive, 

 P "°^* and valuable for early market. 



Netted Gem. — Quite small, thick-meated, of fine flavor, 

 and extremely early. 



