79 

 dimg, one part stable mamjire, and one part sand, dug into the 

 soil to a depth of not more than six inches ; a layer of atout 

 two inches of sand being laid over the bed. Sorae of the 

 finest melons ever seen have been grown on sand, which had 

 been left on inundation, in which holes were dug down to the 

 soil wherein the seeds were planted, the vines being trained 

 on the sand, whereby fields of sorae hundreds of acres were 

 made productive after having been considered lost to the citLti- 

 vator. Before sowing the seed the beds should be moistened, 

 and the seeds put in holes not less than six (eight is better) 

 feet apart, at a depth of an inch and a half. 



Culture 



When the seed leaves fall off, or wither, the plants must 

 be thinned, so as not to leave more than four plants in each 

 hole. As the shoots advance they shoxild be pinned down at 

 intervals with small wooden pegs to prevent their interference 

 with each other, or being blown, about by the wind, and the 

 earth must be brought up aboiit the stems. Such shoots as 

 produce only male blossoms must be cut out. When the fruit 

 t»lossoms open, it is advisable to assist the setting of the 

 fruit by impregnating them with the male blossoms. As the 

 fruit increases to the size of an egg, it should have a tile 

 or potsherd placed under it to protect it from any dampness in 

 the earth, or the late sown melons had better be raised on a 

 low trellis, to prevent their being injured by the rain ; during 

 the whole time of their growth the plants should be watered 



