74 ON THE CULTURE 



ridging out, a single or double mat will be suffi- 

 cient ; after that add a little hay, and increase it 

 if the weather is cold. This should be continued 

 until the middle of June, or later, if the season 

 is unfavourable. 



Many gardeners being unacquainted with the 

 proper mode of training and topping the melon, 

 and thereby finding it extremely difficult to set 

 the fruit, the Author will here give the method 

 always pursued by himself, which, if strictly 

 observed, will be found to be attended with far 

 less trouble, and more certain in its effect than 

 the plan generally adopted. 



When the plants are potted off, top them at 

 the second break ; that is, let them grow to two 

 leaves ; then take out the break, which in some 

 kinds is in the centre, and in others in the 

 second leaf. If you require the fruit very fine, 

 two plants will be sufficient in a light ; but 

 should there be no particular necessity in that 

 respect, and the lights are sufficiently capacious, 

 three may be matured extremely well. 



