MELONS. 



195 



once it has been seen, showing, as it does, what good results may be 

 obtained by such simple means. 



"Arch'd over head with an embracing Vine, 



Whose Bunches, hanging down, seem'd to entice 

 All passers by to taste their lushious Wine, . 

 And did themselves into their Hands incline. 

 As freely offering to be gathered : 



Some deep empurpled as the Hyacint, 

 Some as the Rubin, laughing, sweetly red. 

 Some like fair Emeraudes, not yet well ripened." — SPENSER. 



MELONS. 



Our Melons {Cucumis Melo) are always objects of particular culture, 

 and one or two hundred pounds' weight • are grown in a favourable 

 season. The seed of the first crop is raised in March in the cucumber- 

 house, and is planted in April, when the fruit is obtained in June and 

 July. These are grown in the tank melon-pit, already described 

 (fig. 96). Other crops are planted in the cold frames, as they can be 

 spared, for they are not otherwise required after the new potatoes and 

 early strawberries are finished. A few barrow-loads of hot dung are 

 used along the centre of the frames to start the plants. To obtain suc- 

 cess with melons, they should be planted in rich top spit loam. When 

 the flowers appear and when the plants have attained considerable 

 growth, the female flower should be set by hand ; for, although the hives 

 are close at hand, the bees visit the frames very sparingly. We leave no 

 more leaves on the plant than can be thoroughly sunned and aerated. 

 When the fruit is set and is fairly swelling, little or no water is given, 

 for water has the curious effect— as I have ascertained by the experiment 

 of allowing the roots of a melon to grow in a pan of water— of causing 

 the fruit to be arge but hollow in the centre, whereas if water is with- 

 held the fruit is solid to the centre, and much finer in quality. 



To obtain flavour it is necessary that the leaves of the plant should 

 preserve their integrity till the fruit is ripened, which may be efiected 

 by preserving the moisture of the atmosphere, by saucers of water. The 

 fruit should not be cut till quite ripe, and ought to be eaten immediately 



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