French Gardening or Intensive Cultivation 223 



leaf, and the seed leaves themselves are also suppressed. Still more air 

 but not too much and plenty of light are given after this pinching 

 operation, but sprinklings are carefully regulated, as too much moisture 

 would be injurious at this time. 



As soon as two side shoots have developed from the main stem, as 

 the result of pinching, the young Melons are ready to be planted in the 

 frames. In these the old soil is taken out 2 ft. wide and 1 ft. deep along 

 the centre from one end of the range to the other. The trench thus made 

 is then filled up with two-thirds fresh and one-third old manure well mixed 

 and trodden down. The soil from the second range of frames is then taken 

 out 2 ft. wide and 1 ft. deep (as in the first range), and is spread over 

 the newly made hotbed in Range No. 1. When the hotbed in Range 

 No. 3 is made in the same way, the soil from Range No. 4 is placed on 

 it, and so on till all the ranges necessary for Melon growing have been 

 finished. 



The hotbeds having been prepared in the way indicated and the heat 



Fig. 531 Diagram shov/ing how Hotbeds r.re made for growing Canteloupe Melons 



A, Soil taken from trench in frame Xo. I to be replaced with manure. B, Soil taken from trench in frame 

 Xo. II to spread over manure in Xo. I. C, Soil from Xo. Ill for Xo. II, and so on. 



having subsided to 80 or 75 F., two or three plants are placed under 

 each light. Two or three holes are scooped out in the centre for the 

 reception of the plants. The soil is packed carefully and firmly round 

 the roots, a gentle watering is given, the lights are closed and shaded 

 from the sun for three or four days, by which time the plants will have 

 become established in their new quarters. Afterwards air is given each 

 day according to the state of the weather, the lights being tilted right 

 up on hot days, but only very slightly on cold draughty days. Water 

 must be given more or less freely according to the growth and the 

 weather. 



An important feature in Canteloupe Melon growing is the pinching 

 of the main and side shoots. The plants being placed in the centre with 

 one shoot pointing to the top, or north, and the other to the bottom, or 

 south, side, the tips are pinched out when the shoots reach the limit. Side 

 shoots are developed in due course, and when about 1 ft. long they are 

 pinched back an inch or so above the third, fourth, or fifth leaf. Any 

 other shoots developing afterwards are treated in the same way. 



In the meantime the blossoms male and female have appeared, but 

 the first batch is usually suppressed until the plants are well established. 

 Afterwards the best female flowers are selected and fertilized with pollen 

 from the male blooms, and the young fruits begin to swell. When about 



