The temperature requires particular attention at the time of setting and ripening; though neglect at all the stages of growth is fatal. It must never fall below 70°, or rise above 80°. The seed or nursery bed may continue about the minimum, but never below it: and the fruiting one as constantly approximating the maximum as possible until the fruit is full grown, when the temperature during the day may vary between 85° and 95°. Impregnation must be performed as directed for cucumbers. When the runners completely touch the side of the frame, if the season is genial it must be raised three or four inches by means of bricks, otherwise they must be pruned or stopped. From this, the propriety of having only one plant to a light, is evident; for the runners being often six or seven feet long, and very numerous, require, if there is not room for training, the frame to be lifted long before the season will allow it. As soon as the fruit is set they must be looked over three or four times in a week to observe which is the most vigorous and finest; of these, one that has the largest footstalk, and the nearer the main stem the better, must be left on each runner, and all others nipped off, the runner at the same time being broken away at the third joint above it.

Eight melons on one plant of the large varieties, and about twelve of the smaller are quite sufficient to be left; if more are suffered to remain, they will either be of inferior size and quality, or not ripen at all. By this pruning fresh runners are often induced; but these must in like manner be stopped, and any fruit that they may produce be removed. If a superabundance are produced, which especially, if new seed is employed, will sometimes happen, it is necessary to thin them, and in doing this the weakest and most luxuriant must alike be rejected, those of an average size being the most fruitful. It must always be kept in mind, that air should be admitted as much and as often as circumstances will allow. During mild and serene afternoons and evenings, the glasses may be entirely removed, but on no consideration left off all night. In very warm weather they may be kept off, from ten in the morning until five, a shade being afforded to the plants during the meridian if they flag at all. It is necessary, both for melons and cucumbers, that something should be laid between the fruit and the earth of the bed, otherwise it will be speckled and injured in appearance; clean straw and reeds spread in thin but regular layers are often employed for this purpose.

If tiles or pieces of board are made use of, it is of considerable service in forwarding the ripening, to have them painted or charred black; but what would be still better is coal ashes spread over the surface of the bed two or three inches deep and beat smooth. This, I am of opinion, is preferable from its power of absorbing and retaining heat, and inferior in no other quality to drifted sea or river sand, recommended by Mr. Henderson, of Brechin Castle, N. B., which, he observes, extirpates the slater or wood-louse, by preventing it concealing itself from the rays of the sun; it keeps down the steam, affords a bed for the fruit as warm and as dry as tiles or slates, retains the moisture longer, whilst it becomes dry itself sooner than those coverings, and is a powerful preventive of the evil - the mildew. If tiles or slates are employed, they must be put under the fruit as soon as it has attained the size of a walnut, the other materials immediately after the plants are well established. A regular moisture should be kept up by moderate waterings applied with the precaution intimated for cucumbers; but when the fruit is becoming ripe, water must be either altogether withheld or applied very sparingly.

About thirty or forty days usually elapse between the setting and full ripeness; it must be gently turned twice or three times during a week, otherwise that side which lies constantly on the ground will be blanched and disfigured. Its maturity is intimated by a circular crack near the footstalk, sometimes by becoming yellowish; but more decidedly by the emission of a fragrant smell. The cutting should be performed early in the morning, and the fruit kept in a cool place until wanted. The whole of the stalk is left pertaining to it when cut. To prevent the fruit's bursting, it is a very successful plan to elevate the further end of the fruit as much as 30° above the stalk end.