SJECT. XIV, OF RAISING MELONS-- fM 



it coipfs vip weak, and is apt to rot, when the mould is 

 not ruraciently dry, and the feed bed not very warm. 

 IF new feed only can be had, it fhould be earned a 

 week or two in the breeches pocket, to dry away fome 

 of the more watery parts : The earlier the ieed is fawn, 

 the older it fhould be. Melon feed may be fown in a 

 cucumber bed, that is in a brifk heat, in pots plunged 

 towards the middle; but a bed fhould be ready to move 

 the young plants into before the cucumber /ed gets 

 too cool. Sow only three or four feeds in each pot, and 

 cover a little more than halt an inch : The earth in 

 which the feed is fown, fhould not be fo ftrong as that 

 in which the plants are to grow for fruit. When the 

 feedlings are three or four days old, take them up 

 carefully, fo as not to break any of the roots, and either 

 plant cne in a fmall pot, or two in a little bigger; but 

 depend on no plants which do not appear healthy and 

 ftrong. Sew a few feeds every lour or five days, left 

 accidents happen to deftroy the firfl plants. 



As melons require Ikill, and occafion trouble to raife 

 them, the greatelt pofiible care fhould be taken that the; 

 feed is of a good kind. Melons fhould never grow near 

 cucumbers, especially if for feed, as the farina of the 

 cucumber may impregnate the blofTom of the melon, 

 and give it a w r atery flavour, or quite alter the nature 

 of it: Do not fow ioreign feed, except for experiment. 



Though melons may be fown in a cucumber frame, 

 that is in a good heat, yet rather make a feed bed, of 

 about three feet thick ; and having put on the frame 

 and light, tilt the giafs a little, and when the great heat 

 is abated, put on fome dry, rich, and fine, but not very- 

 light earth, to the thicknefs of four inches all over; 

 and the next day, if the mould is not too hot, fow the 

 feed fame in the beds, and fome in pots, placed juft in 

 the middle, which may be drawn up out of the way of 

 any burning heat. 



When the plants appear, give them air, and beware 

 of VMLci&Jleam from the glades dropping on them; 



