37 « 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
now. It is simply spread over a greater area and the 
plants require even closer care than before, for greater 
attention must be paid to watering, syringing, and ven- 
tilation, success at this stage being very largely depend- 
ent thereon. 
As the fruit attains size, it is usually lifted from the 
soil by a shingle or a flat stone, to avoid loss from 
cracking, rot, etc. Uniform shape, color, netting and 
ripening are secured by turning the fruit every few days. 
When the runners fairly occupy the inclosed area the 
; rames are raised a few inches. As the season advances 
more and more air is admitted until, finally, when the 
melons are almost full grown, the sash and then the 
frames themselves are removed. 
As each fruit sets, its shoot is pinched off one or two 
joints beyond it. A 15 to 20-melon crop is considered 
sufficient from each 6 to 12-frame. Three or four hills 
are planted and usually two plants are set in a hill. 
The melons vary greatly in size. One weighing 44 
pounds has been grown. Their average weight ranges 
from 8 to 15 pounds, and a dozen average 120 to 130 
pounds. In exceptional cases some have been shipped 
weighing 240 pounds a dozen-package. The larger 
melons are' apt to be poorer in quality than those weigh- 
ing 8 to 15 pounds. 
Two distinct types exist, a roundish oblate and an ob- 
long, the first slightly deeper ribbed than the latter. 
These do not seem to be separated by the growers. It 
is not at all certain that either type is fixed. 
A large wicker basket (clothes basket) is commonly 
employed in shipping to distant markets. It holds a 
dozen melons, packed in short, fine-stemmed hay, and is 
shipped without cover, no attempt being made to fasten 
the melons in place. The express company is held re- 
sponsible for safe delivery. 
