170 FRENCH MARKET-GARDENING 



finger instead of a dibber, or, better still, each one 

 is placed in a 3-in. pot, using a compost of rich gritty 

 loam and a little leaf soil. When the young plants 

 are being put into pots, they should be handled 

 carefully so as not to injure the roots too much, 

 and the soil also should not be pressed too firmly 

 around them. Whether the plants are pricked out 

 or potted up, care should be taken in either case 

 to bury the young stems in the soil up to the seed- 

 leaves. 



After potting, the young plants should be " plunged " 

 in the compost up to the rim of the pots, before which 

 they should have been watered with a fine-rosed water- 

 pot to settle the soil. 



Another method of treating the seedling Melons is 

 as follows : A 3-in. pot is taken and a wisp of straw 

 or litter is twisted round it firmly so as to acquire 

 the shape. Pot and straw are then placed where the 

 young Melons are to grow as many pots and wisps 

 of straw being used as are necessary, and placed 

 firmly side by side. When finished a gentle twist and 

 pull of the pot will free it from the straw, in which 

 a hole or pocket corresponding to the form of the pot 

 is left. Each hole is then filled with rich loamy 

 compost, in which the young Melon is planted. The 

 advantage of this method appears to be that when 

 the roots have absorbed the nourishment from the 

 soil surrounding them, they are then at liberty to 

 pierce their way through the litter in search of more, 

 whereas in pots they would be unable to travel in this 

 way. 



Whichever method is employed, it is essential to 

 keep the lights covered with mats for three or four 



