upon a sandy soil, sufficiently so for eating (in conse- 

 quence of the surplus radiated heat), it is not, on 

 this account, suitable for the manufacture of sugar. 

 The ripest, and, consequently, those containing the 

 most sugar, are to be found in Southern Hungary, 

 Egypt, Persia, Italy, India (grown on the river edge 

 where the cane will not flourish) ; the temperature in 

 those climes being sufficient for the complete maturity 

 of the melon. It requires a subsoil slightly damp. 



In growing this fruit it has frequently been sug- 

 gested to plant a crop between the rows, to economize 

 the land ; but we have reasons to believe that the 

 result as to the quality, etc., would be sadly impaired. 

 It is contended that the cost of cultivation of melons 

 is one-fourth that of beets ; but we doubt it, as experi- 

 ence has, in every case, proved the contrary. The 

 ploughing of the field for beet cultivation is an actual 

 outlay at the commencement, but is in reality an 

 economy for subsequent crops. If plowing several 

 times should be resorted to, it would not leave the 

 ground in a condition like it is after a crop of beets. 

 Argument in favor of melon cultivation and utilization 

 is, that a larger amount may be sold at retail, repre- 

 senting an immense revenue, which is admitted would 

 be greater than could possibly be expected from beets. 

 But we would say in answer, the experience in beet 

 growing in America has been that the farmers esti- 

 mate, in many cases, there is more profit derived 

 from feeding them to cattle than selling to the factory 

 at $5 a ton, in consequence of their immense feeding 

 qualities. If only ten tons to the acre be obtained, 

 this would represent a value for fodder of $50 ; we 

 know of no other plant of which the same may be 

 said. 



It is true that melons yield seed every year, so 

 does sorghum ; and beets require two years for matu- 



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