166 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



It is an early arid prolific bearer, and in setting it 

 in the early part of the season, attention should be 

 given to select those likely to swell off together ; for 

 if one sort takes the lead, the others will be rather 

 tardy in their growth, until the former are cut. 

 This holds good in most cases with the melon, but 

 with none more than the large rock variety. 



Few or no sorts of the melon have gained more 

 prizes than the above, from which a judgment may 

 be formed of its worth. The author is one out of 

 many, that have gained so great a testimony of 

 the merit due to the cultivators; and that, be it 

 remembered, in the time of the old school, when 

 there were no cheap periodicals to instruct, nor 

 penny trumpets to sound the fame of the many im- 

 provements and new discoveries made in the cul- 

 ture of this fruit ; and all producing no better crop 

 than the author witnessed fifty years ago, when 

 plain and practical directions were the order of the 

 day. 



That the above fruit is rather more tender than 

 the larger kinds of the rock, and other varieties, has 

 retarded its cultivation by the young practitioner; 

 but with a little close attention in the early part 01 

 its growth, and with a regular and moderate bottom 

 heat, for which the pit described for the cucumber 

 will be found the most eligible for early work, the 

 few difficulties there are in the way will be easily 

 overcome. 



There is a variety of the scarlet flesh melon, with 

 a smooth rind, which the author has heard highly 

 extolled in various places. It may be so, but as he 

 never had it under cultivation, he cannot speak 



