80 

 daily ; the fruit ripens from the middle of April to the 

 middle of June , 



Mus3anelon, Cucumis melo (Linn.) 

 Description and HaTjitat 



Leaves ortiicular-reniform, 5-angular or lobed, lolies 

 neither deep nor acute scatrid on "both surface and also often 

 with soft hairs, petals 5/8 in,, fruit glahrous or somewhat 

 hairy not spinous nor tuherculate. 



Throughout India, cultivated. Distribution, cultivated 

 inmost hot countries. 



Stems scaTirous. Leaves ;^ in, diameter ; petiole 2 in, 

 Female peduncle sometimes 2 in, Jriit spherical, cioid elon- 

 gate or contorted. 



Soil 



Cucumhers will thrive in any good soil not extremely 

 heavy nor sandy, Good maize or wheat land, if in gardening 

 condition with respect to tilth and drainage, will answer or 

 for the earliest crop, a situation with a more prnouncedly 

 sandy soil may serve 'oest. 



Seeds are planted 6 to 12 in the hill (having enough to 

 provide against the ravages of the insects), the hills being 

 4 Toy 6 feet apart, 



Cuciamtiers for pickling shoxAld he gathered when quite 

 small. In fact, their value as pickles seem to stand pretty 

 much in inverse ratio to their size. Vines on which fruits 



