MELONS PLANTING AND TRAINING. 



The principal growths should be stopped at 1 foot from the sides of the frame. This will 

 throw the vigour into the laterals, and they may show fruit at the second or third joint. 

 If the laterals do not show pistillate or fruit flowers at that extent of growth, take out 

 their points at the second or third leaf, and this will cause them to push sub-laterals on 

 which flowers will appear. 



Another mode of training in frames is to stop the plants at the second rough leaf, 

 then allow them to grow for a fortnight or so, by which time they will be well 

 furnished with shoots. Four or six of the strongest are then selected, and spread out at 

 equal distances, with their extremities pointing towards the sides of the frame, care being 

 taken not to cross them, one half being taken to the front and the other to the back of 



~G 



Fig. 1. MELON PLANTS AT PLANTING STAGE. 



References : G, plant with a pair of seed leaves and two rough leaves, ready for stopping. H, a plant with the 

 growing point rubbed off. I, stopped plant, with shoots from the axils of the seed leaves and from the rough leaves. 

 J, a plant stopped at the second rough leaf, the shoots rubbed off from the axils of the seed leaves, twoshoots from the 

 axils of the rough leaves, pinched at the second joint, and properly planted in the hillock. 



the bed. The spray shoots that cluster round the stem are cut clean out, and thus the 

 stem is kept clear, an important point. When the main growths reach to within 6 

 inches of the sides of the frame their points are pinched off. This causes the production 

 of fruit-bearing laterals. Care is taken to remove any laterals that have a disposition 

 to compete with the principal shoots in vigour. The flowers are in due time impreg- 

 nated, and the setting of the fruit follows. When that is effected a piece of slate is 

 placed under each fruit, and the shoots are stopped and thinned ; then, with adequate 

 support, the principal leaves duly perform their functions, and large richly flavoured 

 melons are perfected. 



Cropping. Early in the season it not unfrequently happens that the plants show 

 fruit blooms on the first laterals near the stem, and these are generally impregnated. It 



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