MELON. 177 



tiles, or thinly, with small gravel, previously washed 

 for the purpose. 



Melons have been successfully raised under oil- 

 paper frames, by digging a trench in the ground full 

 two feet deep ; the earthing and ridging out must 

 be similar to those of cucumbers : but such old- 

 fashioned methods are now nearly out of date. In 

 pruning the large sort of melons, little will be re- 

 quired of the knife, if they are not too frequently 

 stopped in their growth. The Cantaleupe is both 

 hardy and fruitful, and it must be determined by 

 the grower whether he will leave more than two 

 shoots upon a plant. 



There are two diseases which affect the melon 

 plant ; the rust occasioned by the red spider, and 

 the mildew. These arise from two causes ; the first, 

 from a too dry state of the air, and the second from 

 cold and damp weather, with too great dampness in 

 the bed, and an insufficiency of bottom heat ; hence 

 the efficacy of M'Phail's pits, and the fluid pits so 

 successfully used in Scotland, particularly those near 

 a tan-yard. 



The attacks of the red spider are generally con- 

 fined to the under surface of the leaves; hence there 

 is a difficulty in destroying it, as bruising the leaves 

 on the side infected generally does more harm than 

 good. The only remedy the author recommends, 

 to prevent and stop the progress of this destructive 

 insect, is to keep the interior air of the frame or 

 house in a moist state, by frequently sprinkling the 

 plants with water; by frequent fumigations of to- 

 bacco ; or by putting a little sulphur of vivum in a 

 pan under each light. 



N 



