352 VEGETABLE FORCING 



the soil. A high humidity is essential, except when the 

 flowers are being pollenized and when the fruits are 

 ripening. It is customary to sprinkle the walks two or 

 three times a day in clear weather, and also to syringe 

 or spray the plants with water when atmospheric condi- 

 tions require such treatment. See notes on watering the 

 cucumber, page 318. 



Temperature. The melon requires high and uniform 

 temperatures, 70 to 75 degrees at night and 10 to 15 

 degrees higher by day in clear weather. 



Training. Anyone who understands the pruning and 

 training of cucumbers (page 324) should have no diffi- 

 culty in performing these operations with melon plants. 

 Though various systems are employed, probably the best 

 for American greenhouses is the single stem. (See Figs. 

 124 and 125.) That is, one stem is grown to the desired 

 height it may be erect secured to a trellis, stake or 

 string, or it may be trained over a trellis which runs 

 parallel to the roof of the house. The fruits are borne 

 on the laterals of the main stem, and the laterals are 

 nipped just beyond the first leaf. A certain amount of 

 thinning and pruning is necessary to remove surplus 

 leaves and to prevent the growth of secondary branches. 

 Some growers use divergent systems of training, as 

 explained for cucumbers. 



Pollinating. The flowers of the muskmelon are 

 monoecious. They require the same attention in pollinat- 

 ing as does the cucumber, though this operation should 

 be given closer attention. (See page 329.) A camel's hair 

 brush may be employed, but a plan more certain of suc- 

 cess is to collect the pollen in any convenient receptacle 

 and then to bring the pollen grains into direct contact 

 with the stigma of the pistillate flower. Another ap- 

 proved plan for winter melons is to pluck a staminate 

 flower, strip it of the corolla and bring the anthers into 

 contact with the stigma of the flower to be pollenized. 



