ii3() GARDEN MANAGEMENT. 



fan-like, so that the three shoots from each of the two plants radiate from a 

 centre, and the laterals from these bear the frnit ; but never allow more that 

 one to swell ofif on the same vine, so that each plant has three vines, and each 

 vine one fruit, or six melons from each light. In the pit which has six feet 

 clear space from back to front, the procedure is as follows : — About the 

 beginning of May, a quantity of stable dung is procured, and prepared by 

 turning and wetting if necessary ; this will be about the middle of the month ; 

 by that time the pit is cleared of what had formerly occupied it. The dung 

 is then thrown in and levelled ; three days after, some good stiff loam is laid 

 on to the thickness of seven or eight inches ; this is well trodden down, and 

 in three days more the plants are put in a row, about eighteen inches from 

 the back, and another about the same distance from the front, the plants being 

 about eighteen inches apart. At the second leaf the plants are stopped, ond 

 each plant makes two vines, one trained towards the back of the pit, the other 

 to the front. To insure a good crop, any number of fruit may be set ; but 

 one to each vine, or two to each plant, is suflScient ; no more ought to be 

 allowed to swell, and all superfluous growth should be prevented : the too 

 common practice of allowing the plants to grow and set as they please, is not 

 profitable : I have found it fail more than once. Both the cucumber and melon 

 grow freely in a moist heat ; a certain amount of humidity is indispensable 

 to secm'e a vigorous and healthy growth ; but the melon should be kept 

 moderately dry while setting, and also at the time of ripening the fruit : a 

 copious watering once a week is sufficient for the roots, but the foliage should 

 be sprinkled every day, just before closing up for the night : early closing is 

 best. Observe, that in watering cucumbers, melons, or any plants growing 

 in heat, warm water should be used, otherwise the plants are retarded by the 

 chill imparted by cold water. 



637. Cucumbers and melons, it is known, are sometimes grown in pits 

 heated with hot water ; the superiority of this plan is so fully established, 

 that none would be troubled with dung-beds after having tried it. The 

 diminution of labour, the cleanliness and comfort, and last, but not least, the 

 ornamental ai^pcarance of the suspended fruit, are decidedly preferable 

 to the many inconveniences attached to the management of hotbeds. 

 The Edmonstone pit may be an improvement on the ordinary dung-beds, 

 inasmuch as it is cleaner and more under control ; but every practical 

 gardener would strongly protest against its introduction into any^ modern 

 garden : the cost of building would pay for a span-roofed pit and appliances, 

 and expense of manure would supply fuel, and the labour nearly all saved ; 

 this last being nc triCiDg consideration. 



§ 8.— Window Gardening. 



638. Our neighbours across the Channel are greatly in advance of us in the 

 ■cultivation of house-plants. "In Brussels," says M. Victor Paquet, "the 



