These are included among desirable fruits (222. The Melons), and are here noted as a rare crop in home gardens. If started on sods in the hot-bed, the crop will be advanced fully two weeks. A main drawback to growing them in the home garden, especially in the suburbs of our cities, is the pilfering by melon-loving boys. But where the surroundings are favorable the home-grown melons are specially desirable, as when brought from a distance they are usually picked when not fully ripe.