Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-03-25
HOW TO RAISE MELONS.

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The following method of raising early
melons is given in Treatise on Gar
dening," by ]. Armstrong, of Duchess
county, N. Y. Select a spot well defend
ed against the north wind, and open to
the sun throughout the day. IF such is
not to be found in your garden, create a
temporary and artificial shelter producing
the same effect. At the end Of March.
form holes two feet in diameter, and dis
tant from each other seven feet and half.
Fill these with horse dung and litter, or a
mixture of mould, dung, and sand. At
the end of twenty days, cover the holes,
which have been thus filled, with hand
glasses. When the heat rises to SO of
Reaumer, Ills Farenheit] sow the seeds
four inches apart; and when the plants
have acquired two or three leaves, pinch
off the end Of the branch or runner. This
will produce lateral branches which must
again be pinched off, SO soon as they re-
spectiyely attain the length Of ten inches.
When the plant has out-grown the glass,
the latter becomes useless, and may be
removed-but should the weather be wet
or chilly, substitute coverings Of clean
straw for that of glasses, until the young
plant becomes strong enough to bear the
open air. Two or three melons only, are
left to each vine, and under each of these
is placed slate, without which the upper
and under sides will not ripen together.
In another passage of the same work.
the writer gives the following method Of
snperseding the necessity of pinching off
the ends of the branches or runners of
melon vines, namely: /" If the branches
be vigorous and long, stretch them care
fully over level surface, and bury every
fourth or fifth joint. This is best done
by means of wooden CROCHET. The
object of pinching or shortening the stem,
are thus completely fulfilled, without any
of the risk attending that operation, and
with advantages peculiar to this method.
as whenever the plant is buried, new
roots are formed for the better nutrition
of the stem and the fruit" Ibid.
1AAr AIR n AEEDs SdpCs JdCOD JOlCSa OF
the U. s. ship Brandywine, at Valparaiso,
has sent to the editor of the American Farm
er, Baltimore, key of what is there termed
Alfalfa seed. The letter accompanying it
describes it as trefoil with straight stalk,
attaining in Chill and Peru, (where it is the
only grass cultivated) the height Of three
or four feet with a small blue blossom. It
is sowed broadcast, very thin, yet makes a
heavy crop: is cut two or three times wear.
and succeeds best in moist ground.
OATS. Deane's N. E. Farmer states that
" oats cannot be sowed too early in the
spring, after the ground is thawed and be-
come dry enough for sowing. The English
farmers SOW them sometimes in February"
Loudon says, "The season of sowing oats
IS from the last week in February to the
end of April. About the middle Of March
IS preferred by the best of farmers" We
believe, as general rule, neither oats nor
any other sort of spring grain can be sowed
too early, after the ground can be put in or
der to receive the seed in the spring. Early
sown spring wheat, as well as oats, is much
less liable to blast than such as is put into
the ground late in the season.--M e. Far.
Two scions put into the body of small
pear tree but two inches over, in May last,
standing in the garden of Mr. ]. Edrarlv ofl