408 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



the fruit ripens, the plants are grown entirely in the open air. 

 The stopping, selection of the fruit, etc., are just the same as in 

 the two previous seasons ; however, the plants are generally allowed 

 to push a little more, and two fruit are often grown on the same 

 plant, but the second one is not started until the first is nearly full 

 grown. In this way the remaining strength of the plant is turned 

 to account without injuring the first fruit, which requires no further 

 supply of nutriment to increase its size, and has only to ripen the 

 quantity of matter which it has already assimilated. 



Open-air Culture. — This method, which, as we have seen, is 

 very little used in the north of France, is, in fact, only a simplifica- 

 tion of what has just been described. The plants are raised in the 

 same way in a hot-bed, and planted out in rows of holes containing 

 a good forkful of manure, covered with mellow soil or compost. 

 For the first few days they are protected with docJies or bell- 

 glasses, or, in some places, with oiled paper or calico, supported 

 by thin rods bent in the form of an arch. As soon as the weather 

 becomes quite warm these coverings are removed, and the plants 

 are grown on in the open air without any protection. 



In gathering Melons, it is not necessary to wait until the fruit is 

 perfectly ripe ; for if they are gathered a few days before that time 

 and kept in a dry, warm place, they will ripen there more or less 

 speedily, according to the temperature. It is not always easy ta 

 know the exact time when a Melon ripens, as the indications vary 

 with the species, and are often not very plain. In a great many 

 varieties, when the fruit is near ripening, the stalk exhibits a 

 number of cracks (often deep ones), as if the fruit were about 

 to separate from the plant. In almost all kinds of ^lelons, ripe- 

 ness is indicated by the softening of the part of the fruit which 

 surrounds the eye, and which yields to the pressure of the finger. 

 A change in the colour of the fruit to a more or less decided yellow 

 tinge is also a sign of ripeness. When this change makes its 

 appearance, the fruit may be gathered and kept for a few days in 

 the fruit-room. Lastly, the perfume, which Melons commence to 

 give out almost as soon as they have attained their full size> 

 becomes stronger and more perceptible as they grow ripe ; so that 

 it is sometimes one and sometimes another of these indications^ 

 according to the variety, that must be taken as a guide in fixing 

 upon the proper time for gathering the fruit. 



Strictly speaking, Melons are 

 fruits, and among the best, but in 

 the Paris market-gardens they are 

 commonly cultivated among the 

 vegetable crops. It is also the 

 custom to eat before dinner, or in 

 the early part of it, the common 



Melon of the market with pepper and 

 salt. With us the difference in the 

 kinds and the great difficulty of 

 the culture make our garden Melons- 

 among our very choicest "dessert"" 

 fruit. Slight though the distance be 

 between North France and London, 



