152 AlIERICAX HOME WARDEN. 



in the hand, it will be foiuid to separate readilj' from the stem. 

 No melon to which the stem adheres, or from which it has 

 been separated by force or by the knife, is worth eating. 



The melon-patch should be looked over every day about 

 noon, and the fruit then gathered be kept to cool and matm-e 

 for next day's use. If, from previous neglect, the fruit is be- 

 coming yellow, it should be cooled and eaten the same day. 

 It is a cooling and slightly restringent fruit, and, if ripe and 

 fresh, can not be eaten to excess, 



WATERMELON. 

 French, Jlelon d'eau. — German, Wasser-melone. — Spanish, Melon de affua. 



CAROLINA. SPANISH. LONG ISLAND. EARLY APPLE-SEED. 

 ORANCxE. CITRON, &C. 



BRIEF DIRECTIONS. 



Plant in hills six feet apart, enriched with compost, or in 

 very rich warm soil, five or six seeds in a hill, an inch deep. 

 When well up, thin to the three best plants. Hoe often, gradu- 

 ally hilling up until the vines touch, and after the young fniit 

 appears cut off the extreme ends of the most luxmiant shoots. 



Time : about ten days after corn-planting. 



There is not much variety in the character of ordinary wa- 

 termelons, except as they may Ije adapted to or affected by the 

 climate in which they are raised. Fruits essentially Southern 

 can not be expected to attain perfection in a northern latitude. 



Of the above named kinds, it is better, therefore, at the 

 North to choose the Long Island or the early apple-seeded va- 

 rieties than to risk disappointment by planting those which in 

 suitable locations would grow larger and richer. 



The orange watermelon is a recent variety, of excellent qual- 

 ity and peculiar habit, the inside of the fruit separating read- 

 ily fi'om the rind like an orange, whence its name. 



The " citron" is almost solid and tasteless, and is used only 

 for making preserves — a mere vehicle for the exhibition of 

 sugar and various flavorings. 



Their cultm-e is the same as for muskmelou, ivJiirh see. 



