17-i THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



Why not say a warmth ? The author's two very old 

 acquaintances, Philip Miller and John Abercrombie, 

 did not write in that style : theirs were plain and 

 practical directions, such as the writer has endea- 

 voured to follow throughout this work. 



From the ample details given under the head of 

 the varieties described, the writer will briefly state 

 what he has further to say on the culture of this fruit. 

 First, in regard to the earliest plants, the culture of 

 which is so similar to that of cucumbers, that little 

 need be added. The following will explain what re- 

 mains to be said on this head. 



The two principal things, the seed and soil, hav- 

 ing been already mentioned, the sowing of the seed 

 is to be noticed, which may be done either in pots 

 or pans, and then plunged into a brisk heat, as the 

 melon is of a more tender nature than the cucumber. 

 The seed will soon vegetate, and be of sufficient 

 height in a few days to pot off, which is to be done 

 on the appearance of the first rough leaf. The pots 

 to be of a small size (60 to the cast) and in each 

 should be put two plants, just covering the hole at 

 the bottom with a little short mulchy stuff, and after 

 the pots have been half filled with mould, the plants 

 are to be put in, and afterwards plunged more or 

 less, according to the heat of the bed, and should 

 the mould appear dry, a little water should be 

 given in a tepid state, as advised for the cucum- 

 ber. After the stopping of the leading shoot, the 

 plants will be of sufficient growth to ridge out, 

 either in a dung hot-bed or in a flued pit, the same 

 as before mentioned. The only difference between 

 ridging out early melons and cucumbers is, that the 



