THE MELON-RY. 388 



new forms, -wEilo they retain their old names. In these 

 circumstances, it is deemed unnecessary to enter into 

 minute description, or to do more than give a list of the 

 sorts at preaent best deserving of cultivation. It may 

 be premised that they all belong to the species usually 

 called the Musk Melon. The Water Melon {Cueurhita 

 Citrullus) appertains to another genus, and is seldom 

 reared in this Country except as a curiosity. 



Early Cantaloupe. Green Hoosainec Persian. 



Scarlet-fleshed Cantaloupe. Golden Kock. 



Beecliwood. ' Silver Eock. 



Smooth Scarlet-fleshed- CepUalonian. 



Duke of Bedford, grecn-fleslied. Kassaba, green-fleshed. 



Green-fleshed Egyptian. Sweet Melon- of Ispahan. 



Green-fleshed Italian. Winter Grecian. 



It is important that no seeds but such as have been 

 procured from approved genuine specimen's of the seve- 

 ral sorts should be sown. In general, the fresher or 

 more recent that garden seeds are, the better; but the 

 case is different with the melon. Here it is desirable 

 that the seeds should have been kept in a dry state for 

 a year or two : for it is found that plants produced from 

 recent seeds push too vigorously, sending their shoots to 

 a great length before they show fi single fruit ; while 

 those from old- seeds are less luxuriant in growth, but 

 more fruitful. 



The melon succeeds best in a strong rich soil. A com- 

 post, formed of two-thirds of rotted turf, and one-third 

 of old cow-dung, will be found very suitable. This 

 should be prepared for a year at least before it be em- 

 ployed in the melon frame.. 



There are generally several, perhaps three, succes- 

 sive crops of melons raised in large gardens. It is sel- 



