396 THE FORCING GARDEN. [MAY. 



yellow, or rather, as soon as they begin to smell 

 ripe. They may lie in the frame for a day or two, 

 if not immediately wanted, where they will acquire 

 sufficient colour. But if they are let remain many 

 days in the frame, they will become as insipid as if 

 they had been left too long on the plant. 



With respect to the saving of melon seeds, I shall 

 briefly observe, that it should be clean washed out ; 

 skimming off the light seeds, as those only that sink 

 in water will grow. They improve by age * ; and 

 should not be sown younger than two years old, 

 unless they be worn in the pocket, near the body, 

 for several months previous to sowing, which has 

 the effect of fully maturing them. If seeds of the 

 last season be sown, without taking this precaution, 

 or something similar, the plants will not be fruitful, 

 but will run much to vines, and show chiefly male 

 blossoms. 



When all the fruit of this crop are cut, suppose 

 in three or four weeks, the plants may be pruned 

 for the production of a second crop, equal, and per- 

 haps superior to the first t. They should be cut 

 pretty much in, in order to cause them push plenty 



* I have sown melon seeds twenty years old, from which I 

 have raised very healthy, and fruitful plants. 



f I once had fifty -two full-sized fruit produced in a three light 

 frame, a second crop, and two dozen a third, off the same plants, 

 the Early Golden Cantelope. Of the first crop, (twenty-six 

 fruit), two were cut the 10th May. Thus, a three light box 

 produced, in one season, one hundred and two fully matured me- 

 lons. 



