THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 67 



of Echeveria glauea. Next this was a solid line of Golden Feather, 

 continued back in circles and arches, to mark out the principal lines 

 of the pattern of the embroidery. In the centre of every circle was 

 a plant of Echeveria metallica, surrounded with Alternanthera 

 amoena and Alternanthera amabilis. In the front of each of the 

 arches or semicircles were rows of Amaranthus bicolor, backed with 

 two rows of Amaranthus melancholicus ; and then proceeding towards 

 the back, one row each Centaurea ragusina, Iresine Lindeni, Coleus 

 Verschaffelti, and Cineraria maritima. A hedge of Arbor-vitae forms 

 the boundary in the rear. S. H. 



MELONS. 



BY GEOEGE GBAY, 

 Head Gardener, Norbiton Hall, Kingston-on-Thames. 



ELONS are supposed to be difficult to cultivate, because 

 they cannot be brought round, when they have suffered 

 from neglect or bad treatment, so quickly, if at all, as 

 cucumbers and a few other things that could be men- 

 tioned. In reality, by attending to the plants at the 

 right moment, it will be found that the difference in the amount of 

 skill required to produce a crop of melons and a crop of cucumbers 

 is by no means great. Having had considerable experience in 

 melon-growing, both for market purposes and home use, and know- 

 ing the difficulties the young professional and the amateur horticul- 

 turist have to encounter, I have ventured to send a few notes on 

 the subject. Before dealing with the details, it will be well to 

 remark that they can be grown in either houses or pits heated with 

 water, or in frames heated with or without fermenting materials. 

 It, however, is only the late summer crop that can be cultivated 

 without the assistance of artificial heat. When grown in houses, 

 they should be trained to a trellis fixed at a distance of about twelve 

 inches from the glass, and the fruit supported, to prevent an undue 

 strain upon the vines. When grown in pits, they can be either 

 trained to a trellis, or over the surface of the bed ; but, when ordi- 

 nary wooden frames, or " boxes," are employed, the latter is the 

 most desirable method of training. 



Let us first deal with growing them in houses ; and, in doing so, 

 it is necessary to state that the stock with which the house is to be 

 planted should be raised in it. It is a very serious error, although 

 very popular, to suppose that plants raised in the close, moist atmo- 

 sphere of a dung-bed are suitable for planting in houses heated with 

 hot water. The atmosphere of the house is too dry for them ; and, 

 although direct failure does not ensue, much time is lost. Indeed, 

 without great care, the dry atmosphere will cause the leaves to curl 

 up and perish ; and, without a slight shade in bright weather, they 

 will be completely burnt up. On the other hand, plants raised in 



