216 OUE COMMON PEUITS. 



rarely trust to Nature the fulfilment of so important a 

 work, but mostly adopt the process imparted as so won- 

 drous a secret by Crabbe's " Peter Pratt :" 



"View that light frame where Cucumis lies spread, 

 And trace the husbands in their golden bed, 

 Three powdered anthers ; then no more delay, 

 But to the stigma's tip their dust convey ; 

 Then by thyself from prying glance secure, 

 Twirl the full tip, and make your purpose sure ; 

 A long-abiding race the deed shall pay, 

 Nor one unblest abortion pine away." 



A sunny day is usually chosen, if possible, for this ope- 

 ration, and between 10 and 12 o'clock in the morning is 

 the time prescribed as fittest for its performance. 



When it becomes apparent, by the rapid swelling of the 

 ovaries, that as many fruits are secured upon a plant as is 

 consistent with its bearing powers,* the future blossoms 

 which it may put forth are destroyed as soon as they ap- 

 pear, in order that all its energies may be concentrated 

 on the perfecting of the embryos, while tepid water is 

 liberally supplied both to roots and leaves, in order to 

 supply the drain upon the plant caused by the maturation 

 of so large and juicy a fruit. If grown upon the ground, 

 a piece of slate or tile is put under the tender nursling, 

 to keep it from contact with the damp earth ; and as it 

 increases in size, the stalk is supported so as to elevate it 

 into the air and sunshine, which otherwise might be shut 

 out by the surrounding leaves, though when trained up a 

 trellis it needs no aid in securing a sufficiently exposed 

 position. In the course of five or six weeks after the 

 setting of the blossom, the ponderous produce may be 

 expected to have finished its rapid course, and reached 

 maturity, evidenced by its having attained its full size ; 

 in some sorts, by the gaining also of a yellowish tinge, 

 but most certainly by the exhalation of a powerful but 

 pleasant odour ; though many kinds give likewise the un- 

 mistakeable sign of the stalk cracking in a little circle close 

 to the fruit. "Winter melons, however, do not display this 



Four at one time are usually considered a sufficient progeny. 



