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CHAPTER V. 



ON THE GROWTH OF THE MELON UNDER HAND- 

 GLASSES WITHOUT THE AID OF FERMENTING MA- 

 TERIALS. 



The melon plant may be successfully grown 

 and fruited under this system ; for I have long 

 cultivated it in this manner, and have produced 

 fruit of the finest description and flavour. 

 About the first of May I prepare a bed upon the 

 same principle as that laid down for raising cu- 

 cumber plants under hand-glasses (see p. 3); dif- 

 fering only in respect of soil, which, in this case, 

 should be pure loam from the surface, chopped 

 with a spade quite fine. The dung at the bot- 

 tom will allow of the removal of the plants with 

 less injury to their roots, than if they were 

 grown on loam alone. 



The seed should be proved, sown, and raised 



f 2 



