i4 THE FORCING GARDEN, 
things are all important in Melon growing, and although 
the Melon may be regarded as giving less trouble 
than the Cucumber, yet some few precautions are 
necessary that are not needed in the case of the 
Cucumber. For instance, no water should ever be put 
upon the collar of the plants, z.e. round about the stems 
immediately attached to the roots ; Cucumbers do not 
like too much of that, but Melons will canker or shank 
off if they are watered there. 
The Melon is very liable to the red spider in both 
houses and frames, but more so in houses, especially 
when the fruit is ripening. This arises from the dry- 
ness of the air; the thrip will also trouble the Melon 
in its early stages of growth, before the fruit gets 
half its proper size. The same remedies which have 
been recommended for the Cucumber may be used 
here; but if some flour of sulphur is kept in the 
house, laid on dry slates or sheets of iron where the 
sun can get at it, and where it will be safe from 
the wet, sufficiently gentle and harmless fumes as 
regards vegetation will be given off, which will act 
as a preventive to the red spider, thrip, &c. As 
a preventive is far better than a cure, I have no 
doubt but that this remedy will answer well; but if 
either the red spider, or the thrip, is allowed to get 
thoroughly established on the plants, and recourse 
must be had to strong doses of sulphur fumes to 
despatch them, nothing can be more dangerous, 
for very small overdoses of sulphur fumes will destroy 
every plant. Tobacco fumes are useless to destroy 
these insect pests. 
As soon as the Melon plants reach the roof of the 
house —which is no great distance, for the top of the 
