188 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



various causes. Experience alone can guide one as to 

 how ripe the crop must be to reach the market in time 

 from his locality. 



In loading a car, size the melons and place the small- 

 est on the bottom ; these can stand the weight better, 

 and if one is smashed the loss is less than if a large 

 one were destroyed. 



SAVING SEED. 



Only the finest specimens, and on vines free from 

 disease, should be selected. Melons intended for seed 

 may be marked by a scratch in the rind ; and as soon 

 as the fruit is full grown, all the other melons on that 

 vine should be removed, so as to throw as much vital- 

 ity into the seed as possible. 



Let the melon become dead ripe, and remove to the 

 packing house. Cut it in two and remove the flesh 

 and seed. Drop the flesh into a tub and mash it well 

 without injuring the seed. Turn this into a barrel and 

 stand in a warm place ; in twenty four hours, stir the 

 contents to make them as even as possible. In about 

 forty-eight hours the material will have fermented 

 enough to macerate the flesh; the seed may then be 

 removed by washing in a No. 2 sieve. 



The seed must not be allowed to remain in the bar- 

 rel longer than about sixty hours, as the heat genera- 

 ted is liable to make them sprout. 



As soon as the seed is washed, it should be drained 

 and dried quickly without any heat. 



This seed has been kept for twelve years without 

 losing its vitality. 



