ON THE CULTIVATION OF VARIOUS KINDS OF MELONS. 
147 
back to a healthy young shoot, thinning out the old vines, &c., as is practised towards 
other sorts. 
We have obtained as many as five crops of fruit in one season, from the same plants, 
of the Greenflesh variety, grown in a three-light pit, numerically sixty-six fruit of excellent 
quality, averaging from four to six pounds weight — some of the finest weighing seven 
pounds each. Thus much for the fructiferous habits of the plants under systematic 
culture, and the judicious appliance of manure in the liquiform state. 
In conclusion, if the Melons of the East resemble in their aqueous manner of growth a 
sub-aquatic rather than the tender land plant of other countries, we must remember that 
it is only in climes where the " sun showers triple light," excessively moist situations are 
preferred by them ; but cultivators, extracting a useful lesson from Nature's universally 
instructive volume, and taking advantage of the brightest gleams of sunshine that this 
fickle climate of ours is favoured with, may accomplish a more perfect artificial culti- 
vation of these Melons in Britain than is perhaps ever naturally attained even in climes 
intensely hot and brilliantly bright. 
We have said nothing of remedial measures for the attacks of the red spider, &c., 
as we deem a wholesome, vigorous system of culture, followed up with zeal and vigilance 
in detail, quite "pest proof." 
DESCRIPTION OF THE MELON HOUSE AT CHATSWORTH. 
Fig. 1. 
1^^^ M^^M l^^^l ^^^^1 l^^^P] L^^^^$^i ' 
Fig. II. 
Fig. IV 
Scale, 1 inch to 10 feet. 
Pig 1. represents the ground plan (on a scale of one-tenth 
of an inch to a foot), in which are shown the different pits 
over the tanks (a a) ; with two small cold-water cisterns at 
each end, for the supply of water, and to give Mccess to the 
tanks [h b) ; the trc41is wooden pathway (c) ; and boiler {d). 
Between the back range of pits and the back wall, there is a 
vacuity of 4 or 5 inches, for the free circulation of air ; and 
between the front pits and front wall, there is a vacuity of 
12 inches, also to admit the free circulation of air from the 
ventilators shown in the front wall, and to make room for 
the hot-water pipes, shown in the section. 
The clear width of the house inside is 10 feet : the length 
will of course depend on the supply of melons required. 
The trellis pathway is constructed of larch boards, 4^ in- 
ches wide, by 2 inches thick, and a i of an inch apart, resting 
on sleepers 4 by 5 inches, supported by brick piers. 
The house has a southern aspect, and is built against a 
garden wall, 1 foot, lOk inches thick. The front and end walls 
are built of 9 inch brick, and the pit walls of 4i incli brick 
on bed, plastered, with a wooden capping, on the top of the 
bricks, and finislied with a square skirting to the pathway. 
Fig. 2 represents a portion of the fi-ont elevation, (to the 
same scales as the plan,) which shows the ventilators in the 
front and back walls, and the ridge and furrow roofs. The 
span of the pediments is 6 feet from centre to centre, and 
the rise forms an angle of 22h° with the plating. The front 
ventilators are 2 feet 3 inches, by 1 foot 3 inches in the clear, 
and are balanced on centres, on the pivot and socket prin- 
