HINTS ON FORCING MELONS AND CUCUMBERS. 



I. Melons. 



Melons and cucumbers have been grov^ii with uniform success 

 for a number of winters past at the Cornell Forcing-Houses. One 

 house has been devoted each -winter to the muskmelon, a very 

 difficult winter crop, needing constant care through all stages of 

 growth. This is a crop that should perhaps be called a private 

 gardeners' crop rather than a commercial crop. The time needed 

 to mature a crop is approximately six months, and the attention 

 and heat necessary, make the resulting crop a very expensive one, 

 costing perhaps as much as one dollar per fruit, with a so-called 

 full crop. 



Melons, unlike cucumbers, are ripened on the vine, not picked 

 green, and considerable time as well as skill is required to bring both 

 the vine and fruit to maturity gradually and together. There are 

 two types employed in forcing, English and American. The English 

 type has been found the better, probably for the reason that these 

 varieties have been selected for years for this purpose. 



Varieties — Among the best varieties of muskmelon for forcing 

 are Blenheim Orange, Invincible Scarlet, Monroe's Little Heath, 

 Hero of Lockinge and Gilbert's Green Flesh. The Blenheim Orange 

 is an exceptionally fine flavored melon, setting fruits with ease; it 

 is perhaps the best on the list. 



Requirements of the crop — Melons need full sunlight, therefore the 

 glass is not shaded and, in consequence, great care must be taken in 

 watering and keeping the house damp at all times, except during 

 the period of pollination, when the houses should be held rather dry. 

 Hand-pollination is necessary, and it should be deferred until the 

 main vines have reached the desired length with vigorous-growing 

 laterals, well set with pistillate flowers. This, then, is the time to 

 set all the fruit wanted at the same time. Melons are peculiar in 

 that if one fruit gets possession of the vine and grows to any con- 

 siderable size, it is difficult if not impossible to set other fruits after- 

 wards on the same vine. When four to six fruits set on each vine, 

 the crop may be considered as above the average. After the setting, 

 the plants will need attention only in the matter of providing sup- 

 ports for the fruits so that they may hold a healthy growth of foliage 

 and feeding. 



