SFXT. XIV. OF RAISING MELONS. 



195 



one third, of well confumed dung, and it makes a good 

 compojl, but it mull be completely incorporated by 

 frequent turning and expofing to fun and air, and kept 

 by fome means dry, as under a flied, &c. as directed for 

 cucumbers. Much depends on (he melons growing 

 in a good foil, and rather a ftrong one. 



The planting of melons takes place as foon as the 

 hills of mould are warm through; only if a violent 

 heat is in the bed a day or two's delay does not fignify, 

 if the plants are doing well, where they are; yet the 

 roots muft not be cramped longer in the pots than 

 neceffary. Melons require a greater depth of mould 

 to grow in than cucumbers, and the bottom of the 

 roots, at planting, fhould not be nearer than five or fix 

 inches from the dung. Shade them from much fun, 

 rill thev have taken root. 



If the lights are fmall, one plant under each is fuf- 

 ficient, and if large, let there be only two; for melons 

 require much room. It is a great error in the cultiva- 

 tion of melon* not to allow it them. Earth the plants 

 up with dry mould about the lhanks as they proceed irj 

 growth, and bend tk&m'gttifly down with pegs, to give 

 them a regular and fnug t^reftjon all over the bed. 

 When fruit is fet, there muft be only one of the large, 

 and two of the fmall forts, (fair and promifing) left oh 

 each principalrunner, and this runner fhould be pinched 

 off at the feconci, or rather the third joint above h s 

 which is called Jfopping. 



Pruning is necelfaiy, in order to frrengthen the 

 bearers, and keep tile frame from getting too full of 

 vine, i. e, let all very ftrong, and ail weak fhoots be 

 taken our, as aifo the tendrils ; but take care that too 

 many male biofToms are not thus cut off, for the weak 

 fhoots (if not abundant; do no great harm : As in other 

 plants, fo in melons, it is the middling fhoots that bear 

 fruit the befh 



Train the brandies all regular (in time) with neat 

 pegs, for it hurts melon plants to He rude, and to have 



K g their . 



