MEL 



373 



MEL 



kept in its natural posture and vigour. 

 So convinced was Mr. Knight of the 

 little attention paid to tiiis point, that 

 he took some melon plants under his 

 especial care. He placed one under 



er the main stem the better, must be 

 left on each runner, and all others 

 nipped off, the runner at the s;iinc time 

 being broken away at the third joint 

 above it. Eight melons on one plant 



each light, the glass of which was six of the large varieties, and about twelve 

 feet by four ; the branches were trained of the smaller are quite sufficient to be 

 regularly and secured by pegs in every left; if more are suff'ered to remain, 

 direction; and still further, to present i they will either be of inferior size and 

 the largest possible surface of foliage to ' quality, or not ripen at all. By this 

 the light, the leaves were held erect' 

 at equal distances from the glass. As 

 great injury is sustained by these from 

 the common mode of watering, it was 

 80 performed as not to touch them. By 

 this simple additional care, the other 

 routine of their management being the 

 same as usual, the fruit attained an ex- 

 traordinary degree of perfection, and 



prunmg fresh runners are often in- 

 duced; but these must in like manner 

 be stopped, and any fruit that they may 

 produce be removed. If a superabun- 

 dance are produced, which especially, 

 if new seed is employed, will some- 

 times happen, it is necessary to thin 

 them, and in doing this the weakest and 

 most luxuriant must alike be rejec'ted. 



ripened in an unusually short space of those of an average size being the most 

 time. Mr. Knight further directs, how-' fruitful. It must always be kept in 

 ever, that wherever a sufficient quantity ' mind, that air should be admitted as 

 of fruit is set, the production of more much and as often as circumstances 



leaves is to be prevented, if they can- 

 not be exposed to the light without 

 overshadowing the fruit, by pinching 

 off the laterals as soon as formed. No 

 part of full-grown leaves, however. 



will allow. During mild and serene 

 afternoons and evenings, the glasses 

 may be entirely removed, but on no 

 consideration left ofTall night. In very 

 warm weather they may be kept off, 



should be destroyed though far distant' from ten in the morning until five, a 



from the fruit. 

 Temperature.- 



shade being afforded to the plants dur- 

 -The temperature re- ing the meridian if they flag at all. It 



quires particular attention at the time I is necessary, both for melons and cu- 

 of setting and ripening ; though neglect ' cumbers, that something should be laid 

 at all the stages of growth is fatal. It! between the fruit and the earth of the 

 must never fall below 70°, or rise above ' bed, otherwise it will be speckled and 

 SO^. The seed or nursery bed may ' injured in appearance ; clean straw and 

 continue about the minimum, but never reeds spread in thin but regular layers 

 below it: and the fruiting one as con- are often employed for this purpose, 

 stantlv approximatinii the maximum as If tiles or pieces of board are made use 

 possible until the fruit is full grown, of, it is of considerable service in for- 

 when the temperature during the day warding the ri[)ening, to have them 

 may vary between 85^ and 953. Im- painted or charred black; but what 

 pregnation must be performed as di- would be still better is coal ashes 

 reeled for cucumbers. When the run- spread over the surface of the bed two 

 ners completely touch the side of the or three inches deep and beat smooth, 

 frame, if the season is genial it must be [ This, I am of opinion, is preferable 



raised three or four inches by means of 

 bricks, otherwise they must be pruned 

 or stopped. From ijiis, the propriety 

 of having only one plant to a light, is 

 evident; for the runners being ofVen 

 six or seven feet long, and very numer- 

 ous, require, if there is not room for 



from its power of absorbing and re- 

 taining heat, and inferior in no other 

 quality to drifted sea or river sand, 

 recommended by Mr. Henderson, of 

 Brechin Castle, N. B., which, he ob- 

 serves, extirpates the slater or wood- 

 louse, by preventing it conccaliii" 



training, the frame to be lifted long self from the rays of the sun ; it keeps 

 before the season will allow it. As down the steam, affords a bed for the 

 soon as the fruit is set they must he fruit as warm and as dry as tiles or 

 looked over three or four times in a slates, retains the moisture longer, 

 week to observe which is the most i whilst it becomes dry itself sooner than 

 vigorous and finest; of these, one that] those coverings, and is a powerful pre- 

 has the largest footstalk, and the near- 1 ventive of the evil — the mildew. If 



