CHAPTER XV 

 Melon Growing 



MELONS are among the most delicious and refreshing of summer 

 fruits, and are appreciated by everyone in hot weather. Very 

 good Melons can be grown in a frame, with but little trouble 

 and at small expense, by anyone who will carry out the simple 

 directions in this chapter. 



A hotbed should be prepared in April, and should be com- 

 posed of equal parts of strawy stable manure and leaves, pre- 

 ferably those of the Oak. Mix well together and make up the 

 hotbed in a position fully exposed to the sun ; the frame is 

 then placed on the top. The hotbed ought to be large enough 

 to extend for 18 inches all round outside the frame ; it should 

 be quite 3 feet deep at the back and just over 2 feet deep in 

 front. 



Insert a thermometer in the hotbed, and when the tempera- 

 ture has declined to 90, sow the seeds separately in 3-inch 

 pots and plunge the latter in the frame. 



Raising the Seedlings. As soon as the young plants 

 appear, syringe them lightly with tepid water in the morning 

 and afternoon. At this early stage very little air is needed, 

 and none should be admitted to the frame unless the tempera- 

 ture exceeds 80. In the meantime prepare the soil for the 

 plants ; this should consist of 3 parts of old turf loam, chopped 

 into pieces about the size of a pigeon's egg, and 1 part well- 

 decayed manure. About two barrow loads to each frame- 

 light will suffice at first, and this should be placed in the form 

 of a ridge in the centre, with just a little to cover the rest of 

 the hotbed. 



When the plants are nicely rooted in the small pots, plant 

 them out on the mounds, two beneath each light. After growth 

 has commenced, and the plants are about G inches in length, 

 pinch out the tips to encourage the formation of side shoots. 

 These should be spread out and allowed to cover the surface 



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