Winter Muskmblons. 359 



when the plant is in full bearing. Fig. 59 is a female, or pistillate 

 flower, natural size. It is at once distinguished by the little 

 melon, or ovary, which is borne below the colored portion of the 

 flower. The male or staminate flower is seen in Fig. 60. It has no 



60. — Staminate or male melon flower. Natural size. 



enlargement or melon below, and the flower perishes within a day 

 or so after it opens. Pollination is performed in the middle of 

 the day, preferably when the house is dry and the sun bright, 

 so that the pollen is easily detached from the male flower. A 

 male flower is picked off, the petal or leaves stripped back, and the 

 central or pollen-bearing column is then inserted into a pistillate 

 flower and there allowed to remain. That is, one male flower is 

 used to pollinate one female flower, unless there should happen to be 

 a dearth of male flowers, in which case two or three female flowers 

 may be dusted with one male. If the house is too cool and too 

 moist, the pollen will not form readily, and there are some varieties 

 which are poor in pollen when grown under glass. Every pistillate 

 or female flower, except the first two or three which appear, should 

 be pollinated, although not more than four or five on each plant 

 should be allowed to perfect fruit. It is very rare that even half of 

 the female flowers show a disposition to set fruit. It is best to 

 ignore the very first flowers which appear, for if one strong fruit is 

 set much in advance of the appearing of other pistillate flowers, it 

 will usurp the energies of the j^lant and the later fruits will be likely 

 to fail. 



Varieties. — The general varieties of field melons do not succeed 

 well in the house. Wa have tried various common melons for 

 forcing, but the only one which was adapted to the purpose is 

 Emerald Gem. We have had the best success with the English 

 frame varieties, particularly with Blenheim Orange. All these 



