302 THE GARDENER. [July 



The foliage is green and healthy, and scarcely a sign of spider. The 

 two large fruits were accidentally set out of sight on the flow-pipe, and 

 have been allowed to remain on it ; they, of course, are subjected to 

 great heat from the pipes occasionally, but we believe that is the sole 

 cause why they have swollen so much heavier than the usual run of 

 the variety. We have observed before that INIelons resting on a hot 

 surface swell much heavier than those on soil or suspended ; and it is 

 only what might be expected, from a consideration of the climates of 

 which they are found natives. The Royal Ascots have yielded fruits 

 from 2 to 4J lb. ; one of them had to be cut out after swelling its 

 first four fruits, as it became attacked with fly at an early stage, which 

 could not afterwards be subdued. The Queen Emma, a delicious 

 Melon, has rivalled the Heckfield in every way except in the size of 

 the fruit. Both plants now look as if they would go on indefinitely ; 

 they have scarcely had any thinning, and very little stopping, being 

 allowed to extend. They are planted in inverted Seakale-pots, which 

 stand on other Seakale-pots mouth to mouth, both packed full of soil, 

 with pipes for bottom-heat ; the bed filled round the pots with leaves, 

 into which the Melons have rooted in a limited way, something after 

 the manner of a Peach-tree rooting into the border through the hole in 

 the pots. The Seakale-pots stand on stone flags. 



We do not wish it to be supposed that the above is considered any- 

 thing new or uncommon, only we think it may be an instance of how 

 several crops of Melons may be had from one plant. We think it only 

 natural for the Melon to go on fruiting continuously, like a Vegetable 

 Marrow, if it be allowed to do so. The Squire's Gardener. 



HINTS FOR AMATEURS.— JULY. 



It will be seen now, or before this, that v/here the best promise for a 

 crop of fruit was observed in early spring it will now be very moderate. 

 Where flower-buds were unusually thick and the trees in a position 

 which exposed them to the cold rains from the east, the crop will, in 

 many cases, have given disappointment. " The syringing " theory may be 

 very well where heat and air are under control. It has never been my 

 experience to have a fine set of fruit on open walls or standards when 

 the fruit-blossoms have not been dry for days together. At the 

 present moment I can point to Pears, Cherries, and Apricots which 

 escaped the severe rains, which are in a mass of fruit, and will re- 

 quire much thinning ; and the same kinds of fruits, equally promising, 

 but which were seldom dry during their flowering period, are very 

 thinly set with fruit. Gooseberries and Currants are no exception to 



