CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 231 



to raise seed of any particular root, take care that it 

 does not tlower in the vicinity of any other kind. The 

 early scarlet is the best. 



CUCUMBERS. 



Light sandy soils produce the best. It cannot be too 

 rich, nor too well cultivated, to raise a great crop — 

 hoi^s*" dung- and ashes are considered best for them. — 

 (»S>e Radiihes for a good manure for them.^ 



It is generally observed, that cucumbers, squashes, and 

 melons of everj kind, may be planted as early as Indian 

 corn ; but in order to have them as early as possible, a 

 (ew may be planted 8 or 10 days before the usual time 

 of planting thnt grain. The seeds are considered be»t 

 when 3 or 4 years old, and they are said to be benefit- 

 ted by soaking them in a solution of nitre, and covering 

 them with soot. Three or four plants f»re enough to 

 stand in a hole together; as their roots are said to ex- 

 tend to the distance of 10 feet in fine earih ; therefore, 

 ivhen they get into rough leaf, they should be thinned 

 to this number. After two rough indented leaves are 

 produced, a pimple that portends a future sprout, on the 

 second stalk is to be pinched off, to prevent its growth ; 

 this will make the other branches grow more strong, 

 and be more prolific. The vines should be so conduct- 

 ed as to interfere as little as possible with each other. 

 If you save a cucumber for seed, let it be the first fine 

 fruit that appears. The plant will cease to bear much 

 after this fruit becomes yellowish. 



Cucumbers are rendered more wholesome by slicing 

 them into cold water. See Insects for the method of 

 keeping them off the young plants. 



MELONS 



Require all the season and great care to bring them 

 to any degree of perfection. About the middle of May, 

 prepare a piece of rich sandy ground, well exposed to 

 the sun ; manure it highly with compost, prepared a 

 year at least before it is used ; and give it a good dig- 

 ging, then mark it out into squares of 6 or 8 feet every 

 way ; at the angle of every square, dig a hole 12 inches 

 deep and 18 over, into which put 7 or 8 inches deep, of 



