iS79-] THE AMATEUR'S GARDEN. 173 



forming naturally remain, if there is room for them to develop them- 

 selves without crowding. When these are neatly managed and fitting 

 closely to the wall between the main branches, the trees have a nice 

 appearance, and give a minimum of labour compared with the old un- 

 certain system of nailing and unnailing. Figs should now be un- 

 covered and trained in their places : crowding of these is the great 

 evil generally met with ; indeed, skilfully managed Figs are the excep- 

 tion and not the rule. The branches on the walls should be clear of 

 each other, as Pears are treated, so that sun and air may act on the 

 wood to ripen it ; and when there is plenty of fruit, light and air are 

 very essential to get flavour. Strawberries may be planted on deeply 

 trenched and well-manured land : plenty of room may be allowed them, 

 especially the large-foliaged kinds, such as Keen's Seedling. When 

 Strawberries are forced, they may be taken care of for planting : when 

 well-hardened and planted in rich soil, they make fine fruiting plants 

 by next season. Currants and Gooseberries being planted (an opera- 

 tion we are likely to perform too late, the space not being ready) 

 should be well cut back, made firm, and well mulched. 



In the Orchard-house watering must have careful attention : tepid 

 water (at least that which is as warm as the soil in the structure, 

 should be used. Look after insects: dust with tobacco - powder if 

 aphis should attack the trees while in flower, fumigate when the 

 fruit is set, air carefully in cold biting weather, and avoid extremes 

 as much as possible. Be careful not to use the syringe in unheated 

 structures late in the day when weather is cold. M. T. 



THE AMATEUR'S GARDEN. 



MELONS, CUCUMBERS, VEGETABLE MARROWS, AND TOMATOES. 



Melons. — Many amateurs shrink from growing Melons because of fancied dif- 

 ficulties and warnings from friends who have failed. But where manure is 

 plentiful enough to afford such a hotbed as was described when treating of 

 Asparagus, and when there is an idle frame, there is no reason whatever why 

 amateurs should not produce 12 or even 20 lb. or more of fruit from an ordi- 

 nary frame, if only sufficient care be taken to give the plants the proper 

 conditions, and a free-fruiting hardy variety be grown. Being in possession of 

 a small, hardy, and certain fruiter, we are in the habit of furnishing plants 

 about the middle of May to friends who are invariably successful in growing 

 good crops of well-ripened Melons a little larger than one's closed hand. Its 

 name is " Little Golden Queen," as it is a selected variety of "Golden Queen.' 

 The first thing requiring attention is the raising of the plants. Some may be 

 fortunate enough to get a Melon-growing friend to do this for them, and, fail- 

 ing that, may put up a hotbed for the purpose about the second or third week 

 of April. If put up earlier, a difficulty may be experienced in keeping up a 

 proper temperature ; if later, the fruit will not ripen before September ; but if 

 done about the middle of April, the variety we name will ripen while the sun 



