By Edward Deeker, Gardener To J. Q. Jones, New Brighton, Staten Island, New York.

The Water-Melon is unanimously considered the most delioiously cool and refreshing fruit we can boast of, and perhaps with the exception of the Peach and Musk Melon most sought after both by rich and poor, each grade of society being anxious for bis share of this most grateful summer beverage; the one taking his with wine, etc., after a good dinner, and the other his at the nearest stall to be found at the corner of any street in our large cities.

The whole natural order, Cucurbitacece, of which the Water-Melon is but an individual variety, are 00 prone to fertilise with each other that when grown in company with Messrs. Pumpkin, Squash & Co. they become so altered in general appearance that we very much doubt if that renowned member of modem society, "A Philadelphia Lawyer," could guess which would be the original package to sow for a future progeny, without being sorely puzzled.

Not but that we now and then run across an old-fashioned Black Spanish or Sweet Mountain, true to name and in their proper character, but then 'tis like angels' visits, ' few and far between, and like them must be considered as something very novel, and exceedingly rare. I would not wish to depreciate the character of our honest seedsmen, many of whom do all in their power to give their customers those varieties which are true to name and quality, but as they are often left to the tender mercies of other parties for a supply, and the above-named peculiarities not having been attended to, from the near proximity during blooming of those nearly allied subjects, it often so happens that what should have been a favorite Sweet Mountain or Black Spanish of fourteen to sixteen pounds, with solid and eatable flesh to the rind, only proves a trifle superior to what Pumpkin pies are made from, and so large that a wheelbarrow has to be brought into requisition to convey the tough body from the place of its former development.

The improvement of the Water-Melon in a great measure rests with the "Gentlemen's Gardeners" and amateurs, who may be considered as the pioneers of the Horticultural army, and who, by putting their "shoulders to the wheel" with a hearty good will as to saving seed from the best in shape and most highly flavored, would, in a few seasons so far improve them for the better that the "Oldest Inhabitant" would turn up his eyes with delight at the very idea of tasting a genuine Water-Melon.

The Water-Melon may then fairly claim to be classed A. 1 in the estimation of the " million," and should be strictly prohibited from being seen in company with any plants belonging to the same natural family.

Having made selection of a spot for your Melon patch, you will greatly benefit your ground and forward yourself, by manuring in the fall, instead of stopping till the busy spring time commences, and you find you have a dozen things want attending to at once. After giving your ground a middling coat of manure, dig it well two spits in depth, throwing it up in ridges to enable it to receive the benefit of a good sharp frost, which will mellow and sweeten the soil, besides destroying millions of insects in the embryo state.

The last week in April, or the first in May, is the most desirable time to sow your seed; having levelled and forked over the ground that was manured in the fall, commence by marking off your plot into squares nine feet apart each way - dig out the soil two feet square, spreading it equally all round, then fill up the holes with good rotten manure, and the top spit from an old pasture in equal quantities, well mixed and broken with the spade is the best, but any good, light, moderately rich soil will do; fill the holes six inches higher than the surrounding ground; over these place your Melon boxes and sow from eight to ten seeds in each. If you have not the convenience of boxes, four bricks laid edgeways, so as to form a square, and covered with a sheet of glass is a good substitute. As soon as you have sown your deeds, place the sashes on the boxes, and let them remain on till the seed is fairly up, then commence giving air on all favorable opportunities, not forgetting to pull the sashes off in warm showers, and increasing as the plants progress in strength; thin them out to four plants in each hill so soon as they have made two rough leaves; keep them free from weeds, and draw the soil about the stems so as to strengthen them against the winds.

When they have made four or six rough leaves stop the end of each shoot to make them branch out As soon as the weather becomes settled remove the sashes but let the boxes remain, as they prevent in a great measure the plants from being attacked by a black and yellow striped bug, and can easily be taken away when they become filled with vines. The best remedy we have found for the destruction of this pest, is a slight sprinkle from the rose of a watering pot of whale oil soap, diluted in water. Half a pound of soap to six gallons of water every other day, from the time the plants make their appearance until they begin to grow freely. As every foot of ground is valuable in small gardens, it is advisable to sow a row of early Bush Beans, Turnip-Booted Beets, etc., between the hills, and they will be off the ground before the Melons occupy the whole; attending to hoeing and keeping clear of weeds is all the further assistance they require.