SEED PROPER FOR SOWING. 263 



long regular heat, choosing the tan in the same 

 state as described for bark-bed pits. 



SEED PROPER FOR SOWING. 



Par. 49. With regard to the seed of melons, 

 it should be saved from the earliest and finest 

 fruit, which has thoroughly ripened ; and when 

 three or four years old at the time of sowing, it 

 generally proves more successful, as the plants 

 raised from new seed grow very luxuriantly, in 

 which case the fruit seldom sets so soon or freely 

 as on those plants raised from old seed. 



OBSERVATIONS ON RAISING MELONS IN DIFFERENT 

 WAYS ; THE TIMES FOR SOWING THE SEED ; 

 REMARKS ON WATERING, AND SEASONS OF 

 RIPENING. 



Par. 50. Speaking generally of the culture 

 of melons, they are raised chiefly in three prin- 

 cipal crops, although, if preferred, they may be 

 sown more frequently, at two or three weeks 

 interval. The first is sown in January or Fe- 

 bruary, from which, ripe fruit may be expected in 

 May and June, and sometimes as early as April; 



