264 OBSERVATIONS ON RAISING MELONS, &C. 



but for a more general and certain crop, to be 

 also cultivated in frames under lights, the end of 

 February or beginning of March for sowing the 

 seed proves the most successful, and the fruit 

 will come to perfection about July and August. 

 The third and last crop should be sown late in 

 March or beginning of April, for planting out 

 under hand-glasses, to produce ripe fruit in Au- 

 gust, September, and October. 



When the plants have grown too large for the 

 hand-glasses, (in the absence of frames with 

 lights,) oiled paper frames may be placed over 

 them, by which means good crops of late melons 

 are produced with proper management, which 

 will hereafter be fully explained. 



Melons in any stage of their growth are by no 

 means fond of excessive moisture, neither to the 

 earth or over the plants. It will cause the roots 

 to rot, and frequently the main stem ; it will 

 likewise prevent the young fruit from setting 

 kindly, and much wet will considerably dete- 

 riorate the flavour of the fruit, if applied while 

 ripening. Consequently they ought to be kept 

 at all times in a very moderate state of moisture. 



