192 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



injury whatever to the melon plant, and by a pro- 

 cess attended with but little trouble. The method 

 prescribed by the author is what he has practised 

 at times for a long series of years. 



The first time he noticed mushrooms growing 

 inside and out of melon frames, was about seventy 

 years ago, at Claremont, once the favourite spot of 

 our lamented Princess Charlotte. At that time it 

 belonged to Lord Clive. Greening was the head 

 gardener, and was then supposed to be equal to the 

 best of his day. The author well remembers seeing 

 Greening's ridge of the large Cantaleupe melons 

 interspersed with mushrooms ; hence it will be ob- 

 served this mode of culture is not a late one. 



For the above purpose the bed should not be 

 spawned till a fortnight after the plants are ridged 

 out; as too early spawning would be prejudicial, 

 from the great heat necessary for bringing forward 

 the melons : a good time will be when the plants are 

 fully earthed up ; as the loamy soil advised for the 

 melon so well agrees with the mushroom. 



When the bed is found to be moderately warm 

 and moist, there should be laid on the vacant part 

 of the surface about two or three inches of half- 

 consumed compost, either of leaves or dung ; in 

 which insert the spawn of about two inches square, 

 six or eight inches apart, in rows, on a breadth of 

 eighteen inches, round the inside of the frame ; cover 

 the whole with the soil intended for the plants, and 

 tread the whole down rather firmly, within a few 

 inches of them, but more or less according to the 

 state of the mould being strong or moist. When 

 this is done, let the surface of the bed be covered 



