CANTALOUPE. 223 
ever the soil is favorable. The light sandy alluvials of 
New Jersey are very favorable to their growth. There 
are many varieties, no less than fourteen of which, the best 
known in England, will be found enumerated under the 
head of Melon, in the portion of this treatise relating to 
the operations of the forcing garden. 
The old-fashioned Musk-melon, with its smooth and 
yellow rind, slightly ribbed, although once very extensive- 
ly cultivated, has given place to the better-flavored Mut- 
meg, Cantaloupe, and Raock-melon, with rough rind and 
greener and firmer flesh, and the Netted Citron. This 
last, which derives its name from the raised net-like appear- 
ance on its outer surface, isof an oval form. When well 
grown, specimens will often weigh from two to five pounds. 
The flesh is of a greenish color, firm, yet juicy, and high- 
flavored. When in its greatest purity and perfection, it is 
considered the best melon of its kind. 
The seed of the Cantaloupe are usually planted about 
the first of May, when the spring frosts are no longer to be 
apprehended, in hills or beds, about six feet apart each 
way. In preparing the hills, the most approved way is to 
dig out the earth about a foot deep and two wide, and fill 
up the holes thus made with a compost consisting of a mix- 
ture, in equal parts, of old well-rotted manure, sand, and 
good garden soil and street dirt, where this can be had. 
The hills may be heaped up about six inches above the 
common level of the ground. Hight or ten seeds may be 
put into the middle of each hill, a few inches apart, and 
covered with about half an inch of loose earth. 
When the growth of the plants has sufficiently advanced, 
thin out so as to leave but three or four in each hill. The 
beds are to be kept well hoed and cleared of weeds. For 
the purpose of strengthening the vines, gardeners recom- 
