GROWING MELONS BY BARK-BED HEAT. 285 



serve them from damage, but also to defend the 

 bed as much as possible in very unfavourable 

 weather; and by proper attention to growing late 

 melons by this practice, not only fine crops are 

 obtained, but the fruit (which for the most part 

 will ripen in August and September) will also 

 be of very good flavour. When melons are 

 wanted for mangoes, they should be gathered 

 while green, about a quarter or half-grown, and 

 should be taken from the late crops, selecting 

 those which are not likely to ripen. 



GROWING MELONS BY BARK-BED HEAT. 



Par. 58. Melons grown by bark hotbed 

 heat, are generally raised in very good perfec- 

 tion, sometimes superior and with less trouble 

 than those grown on dung hotbeds, and more 

 particularly for general crops, such as are 

 planted in February, March, or April, as the 

 heat of the bark is of that kind, regular nature, 

 and also so lasting, not being subject to heat 

 violently, or decline suddenly like dung hotbeds, 

 but will continue a moderate heat for two or 

 three months, and the degree of heat produced 



