CULTURE OF THE BA NAN A . 511 



without further trouble, especially if the summer should be warm.'' 

 (Duncan's ' Cucumber Culture,' p. 83.) Warm coverings at night, so as 

 to prevent the radiation of heat acquired through the day, would, in 

 this case, and also in that of cucumbers grown in ridges, prove very 

 beneficial. 



Growing Cucumbers on Balconies, or in Court-yards. " Those who 

 have no garden ground, but have yards or balconies on a south, east, 

 or west exposure, may plant them in very rich compost, in large pots, 

 or boxes eighteen inches or two feet square, and train the plants to 

 the wall. They will require precisely the same treatment in watering, 

 stopping, &c., as directed for pots in the cucumber-house. In this way 

 those who have no garden may have the pleasure of growing their own 

 cucumbers." (Ayres's * Treatise,' p. 41.) 



Watering Cucumbers in the Open Garden. During the time the plants 

 are under the glasses, they may be watered in the same way as if they 

 were under frames ; but after the glasses are raised, and the plants 

 permitted to extend themselves over the bed, water, on a warm day, 

 as seldom as possible, but when it is done do it effectually ; that is, 

 saturate the ground to the depth of a foot at least, and with water 

 which, either by admixture with warm water, or by exposure to the 

 solar influence, has attained the same temperature as the soil in which 

 the plants are growing, choosing if possible a dull day for the purpose. 

 (Ibid., p. 40.) 



Cucumber and Melon Culture Compared. Much of what has been 

 advanced on the culture of the cucumber may be applied to the culture 

 of the melon, but their treatment differs in the following particulars. 

 The melon cannot be ripened in this country in the winter-time, and 

 therefore the seeds need never be sown before February. The soil for 

 the melon should be of a firm texture, loamy, and should lie solid in 

 the bed rather than loose like that of the cucumber. It is often covered 

 with gravel, pebbles, tiles, or slates. When the fruit of the melon is 

 advancing to maturity, water must be gradually withheld so as not to 

 deteriorate the flavour ; whereas in cucumber culture the supply of 

 water must be uninterrupted. The melon, in hot dry seasons, can be 

 brought to a higher degree of perfection than the cucumber, because 

 the atmosphere cannot in general be kept sufficiently moist for the 

 latter fruit. In the highest state of cultivation the cucumber requires 

 as much heat as the melon ; but it may be grown in a much lower 

 temperature, more especially as compared with that required by the 

 Persian varieties of the melon, for these require a greater heat than 

 the Cantaloups. 



Culture of the Banana. 



The banana (Musa sapientum, L.) is a Scitamineous herbaceous 

 evergreen, a native of Asia, in forests, in soil formed of rich masses of 

 vegetable matter, kept moist by the shade of trees. There are many 

 varieties cultivated in India and other warm regions of the East, 

 varying in height from three feet to twenty feet ; but those which are 

 in most esteem in Briiish gardens are the Musa Cavendishii, from 



