680 THE MELON. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



The Melon. 



Cucumis Melo, L. Cucurhitacece, of botanists. 



MdoTi, of the French ; Melona, German ; Meleon, Dutch ; Melone, Italian 



and Melon, Spanish. 



The Melon (or musk melon) is the ricliest and most luscious 

 of all herbaceous fruits. The plant which bears this fruit is a 

 trailing annual, supposed to be a native of Persia, but which has 

 been so long in cultivation in all warm climates that it is quite 

 doubtful which is its native country. 



The climate of the Middle and Southern States is remarkably 

 favourable for it — indeed far more so than that of England, 

 France, or any of the temperate portions of Europe. Conse- 

 quently melons are raised as field crops by market gardeners, 

 and in the month of August the finest citrons or green-fleshed 

 melons may be seen in the markets of New York and Philadel- 

 phia in immense quantities, so abundant in most seasons as fre- 

 quently to be sold at half a dollar per basket, containing nearly 

 a bushel of the fruit. The warm dry soils of Long Island and 

 New Jersey, are peculiarly favourable to the growth of melons, 

 and even at low prices the product is so large that this crop is 

 one of the most profitable. 



Culture. — The culture of the melon is very easy in all, ex- 

 cept the most northern portions of the United States. Early in 

 May, a piece of rich, light soil is selected, well manured and 

 thoroughly dug, or prepared by deep ploughing and harrowing. 

 Hills are then marked out, six feet apart each way. These 

 hills are prepared by digging a foot deep, and two feet across, 

 which are filled half full of good, well-rotted manure. Upon 

 the latter are thrown three or four inches of soil, and both ma- 

 nure and soil are then well mixed together. More soil, well 

 pulverized, is now thrown over the top, so as to complete the hill, 

 making it three inches higher than the surface. Upon this, 

 plant eight or ten grains of seed, covering them about half an 

 inch deep. 



When the plants have made two rough leaves, thin them so 

 as to leave but two or three to each hill. Draw the earth nicely 

 around the base of the plants with the hoe. And to prevent 

 the attack of the strijjed cucumber bug [Galereuca vittata), the 

 great enemy of the melon and cucumber plants, sprinkle the 

 soil just beneath the plants, as soon as they come up, viiih guano. 

 The pungent smell of this manure renders it an effectual protec- 

 tion both against this insect and the cucumber fea beetle, a lit- 



