174 Method of growing Crops of Melons on open Borders. 



If the weather is hot and dry, frequent waterings will be 

 required ; but it will be better to give water in tolerable 

 quantities once or twice a week, than oftener and in less quan- 

 tity, for Melon plants are impatient of much moisture on 

 their vines or leaves, being very apt to canker from it. To 

 have handsome fruit, it will be necessary to thin them when 

 they get to the size of walnuts, as they set very freely, often 

 several dozens on a hill. The fruit will begin to ripen about 

 the first week in August, and continue to be produced through 

 that month and part of September. All waterings should 

 terminate when the fruit begins to ripen, since the roots of the 

 plants running amongst the decomposed vegetables will afford 

 sufficient nourishment to the later fruits. To prolong the 

 season, seeds may be sown three weeks later, and planted 

 out by the same rule, and treated in every respect as above, 

 till there is an appearance of frosty nights, when they may 

 be protected by common cucumber or melon-lights, as is 

 done with the early crops. By this means tolerably good 

 Melons may be had till the end of October. 



The sorts grown by the above treatment were the Black 

 Rocks, Scarlet Rocks, Green fleshed, Netted, and Early Can- 

 taloup Melons. ! am Sir> 



Your most obedient Servant, 

 William Greenshields, 



Englefield, near Reading, 

 January 4, 1827. 



