MELON (Cficumis meld) is an herbaceous, succulent, climbing or trailing annual, cultivated for its fruit in hot Eastern countries from time immemorial. In regions where most cooling vegetables disappear on the approach of great summer heat and drought, the melon, together with the water-melon (Cucumis citrullus), become essential substitutes. The antiquity of the cultivation of melons being so remote, and their dispersion over large portions of Asia and Africa so extensive, their indigenous locality cannot be traced at the present day. They were both introduced into England during the latter part of the 1Gth century, hut it is not known whence.
If the roots be favourably situated, so far as moisture is concerned, the melon will bear a tropical heat; and, generally speaking, it will not succeed perfectly in the open air beyond the 43rdsparallel of latitude. Its range of atmospheric temperature may be estimated at between 70° and 80°. The medium in which the roots are placed should of course be more uniform, and about 75° of bottom heat will be found both safe and efficacious.
Light is so essential, that unless the plants are kept near the glass, no tolerable degree of flavour will be acquired. As much of the direct rays of the sun should be admitted as the plants will endure, more especially when the fruit is approaching maturity. A screen may be occasionally necessary, but it should be of very thin texture.
If melon plants were not adapted for a dry atmosphere during a con siderable portion of the day at least, they could not exist in the parch ing climates in which they naturally grow ; and therefore a free admission of air is to be recommended, so far as is consistent with the maintenance of a high temperature. The health of the plant soon suffers if evaporation by the foliage is not freely carried on ; for it is found that when it is obstructed by continued moist foggy weather, disease commences, and mildew ensues. The regulation of moisture in the artificial atmosphere in which melons are grown, under an English sky, is, of all others, the most insurmountable difficulty. Covering the soil with slates or tiles or with clean gravel has been successfully resorted to as a mode of preventing the air in the frame from being at alrtimes saturated with moisture exhaled from the soiL Melons will thrive if their roots are actually allowed to extend themselves in water ; and iu the case of the floating-beds on which they are grown in some parts of Persia, they find their way through the mould and its support into the water. But a drier medium for the
roots becomes essential for good flavour in the comparatively close mode which in forcing them it is necessary to adopt in this country, in order to prevent the dissipation of heat, which would otherwise take place from a limited atmosphere the temperature and elasticity of which are so much above that by which it is surrounded.
About four months may be allowed, on an average, when grown in pits, for the period between the sowing of melons and the ripening of the fruit. The middle of January is found to be early enough to sow ; and the young plants are so exceedingly tender, that accidents are then very likely to occur to them. It is on this account necessary to make successive sowings, in order to be prepared for replacement, if requisite, and also for continuing the supply throughout the summer. A sowing for the latest crops will require to be made in April.
The seeds should be sown in shallow pans, and transplanted into small pots when their seed-leaves are about half an inch broad. It is best to put only a single transplanted melon into each pot. While this is done in a separate frame, that which is intended for their future growth and fruiting is prepared for their reception, by placing small hills, rather more than a foot high, of light rich mould below each sash, and nearer to the back of the frame than the front. Care must be taken that this mould be of the proper temperature before the young plants are introduced, which is to take place when they have made a few rough leaves. As the roots extend, more soil should be added of a gradually stronger nature; and ultimately the roots should have a depth of about 15 inches of such soil. When water is required, it should never be much below 70°, nor should it exceed 78°. It should not be applied when the air of the frame is at a high temperature from sun-heat. Shading is necessary immediately after watering, when the sun's rays have any great degree of power ; unless this precautiou is attended to, scorching will be induced, and the red spider will be likely to attack the foliage ; other insects to be feared are aphides and thrips. The principal diseases to which melons are subject, are gum and canker. All are more frequent in the plants fruiting on hot-beds, than when treated as climbers.