84 FRUIT GROWING FOR AMATEURS 



of the frame. When roots appear on the top of the soil, give 

 a light top-dressing of loam, and press it down firmly. Do not 

 allow the plants to suffer for want of water at any time ; always 

 use tepid water. 



Ensuring a Crop. Superfluous side growths must be 

 pinched out when quite small ; if they are allowed to grow 

 and a lot of shoots are cut away at one time, it causes a check 

 and is liable to do much harm to the plants. When the fruits 

 form pinch the growths at the first leaf beyond the fruits ; any 

 further shoots that form should be removed. Always endeavour 

 to set three blooms on a plant at the same time ; if this is not 

 done the fruits grow unevenly, and the later ones usually fail 

 to swell satisfactorily. The blooms are " set " by fertilising the 

 female flowers with pollen from the male flowers, and this should 

 be done at midday when the atmosphere is dry. At this period 

 the morning syringeing ought to be discontinued, but when four 

 fruits have been set on each plant, continue to syringe twice daily. 



Close the frame in the afternoon early or late according 

 to the weather, but so that the temperature will rise to 95 

 shortly after the frame is closed. If the frame is shut half an 

 Aoiir or so before the sun ceases to shine upon it, and the plants 

 -ire freely syringed, the fruits will swell rapidly. At this period 

 of growth diluted liquid manure may be given the plants with 

 great benefit twice a week ; or a little artificial fertiliser can 

 be sprinkled on the surface soil and watered in with clear water. 



When the Melons commence to ripen admit rather more air, 

 and as they turn colour less water should be given. It is, how- 

 ever, important to keep the foliage fresh until the fruits are 

 cut, otherwise the flavour of the Melons is not so good. 



Melons can often be grown in a frame without a hotbed if 

 strong plants are obtained to plant out early in June, and every 

 advantage is taken to close the frame fairly early in the after- 

 noon, so that the temperature rises by natural warmth. Late 

 crops ought to be grown in a frame heated with hot- water pipes ; 

 only in this way can the fruits be ripened properly. 



Varieties for the Frame. Hero of Lockinge is one of the 

 best Melons for a frame ; the fruits are of good size, round, 

 well netted, and have white flesh. The Peer is a fine variety 

 with pale green flesh, and is of delicious flavour. Blenheim 

 Orange is a scarlet - fleshed variety that can be highly recom- 

 mended- 



