554 THE GARDENER. [Dec. 



deep for planting : as soon as the roots get nicely to the sides of the 

 pots, let them be planted out, pressing the soil firmly to the roots. If 

 allowed to remain in the pots until pot-bound, they become hard and 

 stunted in their growth, and precious time is lost before they again 

 recover the check. As they are planted, let each plant be tied to 

 a stake, to prevent breaking in syringing, and keep the side shoots 

 rubbed out until they reach the fi.rst wire of the trellis- work on the roof. 

 Then they ought to be allowed to run within two wires of the top on 

 south side and one on north side before stopping. The reason for 

 pinching to the second wire is to let more light to the fruit on the 

 opposite side. The fruit will be found at the first leaf of the side 

 shoots : sometimes they fail in this, but if pinched back to the same 

 leaf, they generally show next growth. As the flowers open let them be 

 impregnated, choosing the time when most are open at once, as when 

 one fruit gets much in advance of the others they seldom swell regu- 

 larly. Three or four good fruit on each plant is a fair crop. When in 

 flower, stop syringing overhead, but keep plenty of moisture on the paths 

 and beds, as thrip and spider are apt to get a hold of them at that time, 

 and in all cases prevention is better than cure. When the fruit 

 require support, a thin piece of square board with a piece of copper 

 wire at each corner will answer well. When the roots appear on the 

 surface of the bed, let them have a top-dressing of the same soil as that 

 in which they are planted until the fruit are fully swollen, when a top- 

 dressing from an old IMushroom bed will keep the bed from drying up so 

 quickly, and therefore less water will be required, and the evil of having 

 cracked fruit will be obviated. 70° night temperature is sufficient in 

 early spring, but as the season advances, 75° is not too high ; or if the 

 fruit is wanted at a given time, 5° higher may be resorted to with 

 safety. The first batch, treated to the first-mentioned temperature, 

 should ripen about the middle or towards the end of May : of course 

 later successions, when the days are long and the sun has much more 

 power, take a shorter time. The last week in June is quite late 

 enough to sow for the last crop, which should ripen about the end of 

 September and beginning of October : later crops are rather uncertain. 



Thrip and spider are their principal enemies, and nothing but a 

 constant application of the syringe will keep them from gaining a foot- 

 ing. If from neglect they get a footing, fumigating with tobacco two 

 or three nights in succession kills thrip ; but for spider, a little sul- 

 phur in the water when syringing will soon make them disappear. 



The favourite varieties here are Royal Ascot, a beautiful fruit, oval- 

 shaped and finely netted, scarlet flesh, flavour good, and a free setter. 

 Lord Eglinton's Favourite is another very handsome and good-flavoured 

 scarlet -flesh Melon, shape round, generally growing to about 6 lb. 



