Melons 



211 



As growth proceeds, and the main stem lengthens, the side shoots are 

 suppressed, to concentrate the vigour of the plant. It is important to do 

 this before the side shoots attain any length, most growers pinching them 

 out before they are | in. long. The flowers appear in due course, and 

 the grower decides after a time whether he will have one, two, three, or 

 more fruits on a plant. In Guernsey, the rule seems to be one fruit to 

 one plant, as with the Canteloupe Melons grown in intensive gardens, 

 but English growers usually allow two fruits to mature, all others being 

 suppressed. 



The female blossoms are fertilized by hand with pollen from the male 

 flowers, but in the early stages, until the plants are well established and 

 sturdy, all flowers are removed. The illustration (fig. 397) shows the 

 difference in structure between the male and the female flowers, and how 

 they are borne in the axils of the leaves. 



During growth attention must be given to watering and syringing, 

 and the air must be kept in a buoyant condition by proper ventilation. 

 Cold draughts must be avoided, and the night temperature should not 

 fall below 70 F. for the first crop, and about 75 F. for the second crop 

 in summer. 



The plants should be syringed in the mornings and afternoons with 

 water having the same temperature as the house, and this operation may 

 be continued until the fruits are well developed. When nearing maturity, 

 however, the syringings must be discontinued, and more air may be given. 

 Ripe melons will weigh from 8 Ib. to 15 Ib. each, and realize from 2s. to 4s. 

 in the market. If seeds are sown the first week in February it will be 

 possible to cut the first fruits by the first week in May about three 

 months from the date of the sowing, and the whole crop should be finished 

 by the second or third week in June. A second sowing of seed may be 

 made the second or third week of June, and fruit will be ready for cutting 

 seven or eight weeks later, the whole crop being finished by the end of 

 August. 



Varieties. As to varieties, there are many, having green, white, or 

 scarlet flesh. In Guernsey the kind largely grown is the " Guernsey Al ", 

 but almost any good standard kind will do for market. Some good melons 

 are : 



White-fleshed: Best of All, Royal Sovereign, Sutton's Universal, Golden 

 Orange, Hero of Lockinge, The Countess. 



Green-fleshed: Golden Perfection, Royal Jubilee, The Grosvenor, 

 William Tillery, Windsor Castle, Ringleader, British Queen, Earl's 

 Favourite. 



Scarlet-fleshed: Blenheim Orange, Sutton's Empress, Monro's Little 

 Heath, Reid's Scarlet, Sutton's Al (improved), Sutton's Superlative, 

 Triumph, Invincible, Frogmore Orange. 



Pests. Melons are most liable to attacks of Red Spider, but if the 

 atmosphere is kept fairly moist and buoyant there is little to fear from 

 this pest. The houses in which Melons are grown should be thoroughly 



