350 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Melon—continued. 
closing to 90deg., when the plants are growing, and 
there is plenty of moisture about, no harm will be 
likely to result. During the flowering period, more air 
must be admitted, and a drier atmosphere maintained. 
In summer, but little fire heat need be given, and none 
will be necessary, as a rule, during the latter part of 
June and in July. Plenty of air should be given early 
in the day when a great heat is expected. 
Watering. Melons require abundance of water and 
frequent syringing when they are growing freely. Both 
must be regulated according to the time of year, and 
the amount of light and sun heat available. All the 
water used for both purposes should either be heated, 
or allowed to stand and become warmed to the tem- 
perature of the house. In frames, where there is a 
depth of manure into which the roots penetrate, 
watering need not be so frequently practised as in 
houses, where a comparatively small mound of soil is 
placed above hot-water pipes. When the plants are 
growing, und also after the fruits are set, water should 
be frequently thrown about the passages and round 
the walls of the house, unless the weather be dull and 
wet; but when flowering, and so soon as ripening com- 
mences, the air and soil must be kept drier, and the 
fruits in the later stages allowed exposure to the sun, 
which materially contributes to their good flavour. 
Insects, §c. The most injurious insect commonly 
found on Melons is Red Spider, very few batches of 
plants escaping its attack altogether. It is important to 
start with a clean house or pit, and also to have plants 
free from such a troublesome pest. In the early stages 
of growth, the leaves may be examined separately, at 
frequent intervals, and if any insects are detected, they 
may be carefully sponged off. The leaves are, however, 
so brittle that this cannot readily be performed without 
injury. The best plan of removing the insect is to 
syringe with as much force as the leaves allow, using 
soft rain water, which has been standing in the house 
to become warmed. Melon leaves will not withstand the 
use of insecticides that are applied to many other plants. 
Green or Black Fly, if allowed a footing, increase 
rapidly ; consequently, their appearance should be watched 
for, and the usual remedy of fumigating with tobacco 
smoke applied. Some caution in this performance is 
necessary, as the leaves may be easily injured thereby. 
Melons not unfrequently damp off, just at the neck of 
the plant. It is considered that one great cause of 
this disease—if it really is one—is a close and over- 
moistened atmosphere. The remedy of constant ventila- 
tion, if only very slight, will naturally be suggested, 
and a little powdered lime and charcoal, applied when 
the first symptoms are seen, will often dry up the 
affected tissues, and prevent further injury. The stem 
and roots are also sometimes attacked by canker, which 
is not generally observable until the leaves give indica- 
tions by flagging, and the plants die in a short time. 
A small nematoid worm, also, now and then, attacks 
the roots, living inside the tissues, and causing them 
to decay. The injured parts, or, better still, the whole 
plant and roots, should be burned, and the use of any 
part of the soil avoided for a future crop. Unhealthy 
plants, or those subjected to checks from improper 
paia „ watering, or other causes, are most liable to 
er; sturdy, free-growing ones are far less frequ: 
ee growing quently 
Sorts. There are few kinds of fruit amongst which 
natural or artificial cross - fertilisation is practised with 
greater ease for the production of new varieties, than 
amongst Melons; hence the appearance of such a nume- 
rous quantity of so-called new or improved sorts each 
year. A few of the old ones are only with difficulty 
surpassed; and a selection from those of recent years 
Melon—continued. 
presents a standard of excellence, on every point, which 
it is most desirable to maintain. Deterioration soon 
takes place, and good varieties may readily be lost by 
allowing their fruits to be cross-fertilised ; consequently, 
it is well to keep raising some new ones, with a view 
of, at least, preserving a high standard, and, possibly, 
further improving it. A thin skin, quality, size, and 
productiveness, are the most important properties. If 
one or two sorts are found to suit in these particulars, 
they should be grown; others should only be admitted 
— 
FIG. 541. CANTALOUP MELON. 
for experiment, unless proved to be superior. The 
Cantaloup Melon (see Fig. 541) is supposed to have been 
one of the first ever cultivated in Europe. It has a 
Fie. 542. COULOMMIER’S MELON. 
remarkably irregular surface, and both the skin and flesh 
are variable in colour. Coulommier’s Melon (see Fig. 542) 
is only remarkable for its hardiness and the size of its 
Fig. 543. EMBROIDERED MARKET MELON, 
