354 VEGETABLE FORCING 



One male flower will serve to fertilize two or three 

 female flowers, but since the male flowers are much more 

 numerous, there is no need of economy in the use of the 

 pollen. Both flowers should be fully expanded when this 

 work is undertaken. A bright, sunny day is preferable, 

 and, as previously stated, the humidity of the house 

 should be comparatively low. 



It is highly important to defer pollinating until four 

 or five - or perhaps more female flowers are ready to re- 

 ceive the pollen. If only one or two flowers are pol- 

 linated and no others have attention for 10 days or a 

 week later, the first fruits will develop rapidly and those 

 which follow will be small and of poor quality. If all 

 the fruits on a given plant set at practically the same 

 time there will be uniform development and no one 

 specimen will be nourished more than another. When 

 the melons attain considerable size they should be sup- 

 ported by a string net. Raffia is sometimes used to tie 

 up the fruit, but nets are much more reliable. 



Ventilation. See notes on the ventilation of cucumber 

 houses. Even greater care should be exercised in ven- 

 tilating houses in which melons are being forced. 



Insect enemies. The red spider, green aphis, white 

 fly, striped cucumber beetle, thrips and mealy bug are 

 the most destructive pests. See notes on cucumber 

 pests, page 337. 



Diseases. See diseases of cucumber, page 338. Pow- 

 dery mildew and anthracnose are among the most 

 serious troubles. 



Yields and size of fruit. Two good melons on a plant 

 at midwinter is a satisfactory average. Some plants may 

 have four or five and others none. An average of four or 

 five in the spring is an excellent crop. The winter 

 melons may not average m weight more than two 

 pounds. An average of four or five pounds to the fruit 

 is very good for the spring crop. Six and seven-pound 



