222 Commercial Gardening 



nothing of the Radishes, Carrots, Spinach, Corn Salad, &c., he obtains 

 bet ween whiles. 



There is only one trouble in Lettuce growing in frames and under 

 cloches, and that is mildew. During the winter season this is sometimes 

 troublesome, and is caused by a fungus called Peronospora gangliformis. 

 Should the white frosty-looking mildew appear, any plants badly affected 

 are carefully taken up and burned; slight attacks are kept under by 

 dusting flowers of sulphur over the plants and soil, or by watering with 

 a solution of sulphate of copper 1 oz. to 100 pt. of water. Slugs are 

 kept down by dressing with powdered lime or soot. Cockchafer grubs, 

 when troublesome at the roots, cause the leaves to wilt; they are then 

 searched out with the finger and destroyed. Wireworm grubs are trapped 

 with pieces of potato or carrot. As a rule, however, owing to the constant 

 turning over of the soil, these insect pests are not allowed to become too 

 troublesome. 



Melons. While the Carrots, Radishes, Lettuces, Cauliflowers, and 

 Turnips in the early part of the year are relied upon to fill the coffers 

 of the maraicher, Melons fulfil the same function during the summer 

 months when the others fetch only low prices. Two varieties of Cante- 

 loupe Melon are grown, namely, the " Early Frame Prescott " (Prescott 

 hdtif a chassis) and the Prescott fond blanc. A silvery variety (argente) 

 is also grown, and another called Prescott fond gris. These all have 

 roundish, irregular, somewhat ribbed and depressed fruits 1 ft. or more 

 in diameter, the skin being mottled with shades of grey, green, and white, 

 changing to yellowish brown when nearing maturity. Only one fruit is 

 allowed to ripen on each plant, and if a supply can be obtained in Paris 

 early in June the prices range from 25 to 50 francs each roughly, 20s. 

 to 40s. per fruit. By the end of the season, however, in August, the fruits 

 will realize only from 3 to 5 or 6 francs; but much depends upon the 

 weather and the law of supply and demand. 



The method of culture is as follows. The seeds, which cost about 

 Qd, per 100, are sown singly in small pots in February and March. The 

 pots are plunged up to the rims in a deep hotbed in which a temperature 

 of 75 to 80 F. can be maintained, by lining or banking up the frames 

 with fresh manure when rendered necessary by the weather. The frames 

 are covered with mats during the night, but these are taken off as soon 

 as possible in the morning after the seed leaves have appeared. Melon 

 seeds are also sown in hotbeds in a finely prepared compost, being placed 

 about 1 in. apart arid a couple of inches deep in shallow drills 2 or 3 in. 

 apart. The seedlings are either potted on once into 3-in. pots, or are 

 transplanted 4 to 5 in. apart in other frames with hotbeds. They are 

 shaded from strong sunshine and kept moist overhead until well estab- 

 lished. Then plenty of light and a fair amount of air are permitted to 

 make the plants strong and sturdy, and watering is done with care. 

 When the plants have developed three or four rough leaves beyond the 

 seed leaves, the stem is pinched off an inch or more above the second 



