176 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



We gather from observations, that the length of 

 time a melon takes from setting, till it arrives at 

 maturity, is about six or seven weeks : it has also 

 been noticed, that when the plants are in good 

 health, small drops, like beads, are seen round the 

 edges of the leaves in the morning, which circum- 

 stance arises from dew having fallen in the course of 

 the night. If none are observed, the plants are either 

 too dry, or in want of more heat, and in such cases, 

 measures should be taken to rectify the omission ac- 

 cordingly. 



The author will now say a few words on the cul 

 tuie of the large Cantaleupe melons, which differs ia 

 some respects from that of the smaller kinds. First, 

 the pits or frames must be considerably larger : those 

 the author had in use, were six feet wide, and the 

 pit or bed of three feet in depth was level with the 

 ground. In raising plants of the above description, 

 the seed should be sown about the latter end of 

 April, and if more plants than enough for three 

 lights are wanted, a small hot-bed should be pre- 

 pared for them. In forming the hills, the full 

 depth, sixteen or eighteen inches, must be given, 

 and the mould must be of a more loamy nature than 

 for the other varieties ; good loam is the basis for 

 the growth of both fruit and vegetables. 



When the plants have been stopped in the man- 

 ner already mentioned, they should be allowed to 

 run nearly to the front and back of the frame, pre- 

 viously to which they should be fully earthed ; and if 

 the mould is not too moist, it may be moderately 

 trodden over the entire part of the bed, which after- 

 wards may be covered, either with common house 



