16 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



Span-roofed houses for early and late forcing may be placed with the ends east and 

 west ; for summer supplies, the ends may be north and south. There is an advantage in 

 these structures, namely, the fruits on the south side of the house ripening in advance of 

 those on the north. Span-roofed houses are the best for affording large supplies of fruit, 

 but it is useless attempting to grow early or late melons without ample provision for 

 heat, as highly heated surfaces produce an atmosphere inimical to melon plants. Valves 

 should be provided on all the flow and return pipes, so that the bottom, top, and roof 

 heat can be regulated to a nicety. 



It will be observed that no provision is made in any of the structures for 

 moisture by means of evaporation from trough pipes. Where considered desirable 

 they may be provided, but atmospheric moisture can be adequately furnished 

 by damping the beds, walls, and paths of the house. A trellis must be provided 

 about 1 foot from the glass; if much farther from it the leaves become drawn, 

 and if nearer than 9 inches they are liable to be scorched. The wires should be 

 fixed longitudinally of the house, and about 6 inches apart. No. 13 I.W.G. galvanised 

 wire, with stays at each rafter, answers well, but No. 10 is better for large plants and 

 heavy fruits. 



Melons are grown differently in houses to what they are in frames. 1. The soil is 

 placed in a ridge or in hillocks along that side of the bed corresponding to the bottom 

 of the trellis. A ridge extends the whole length of the bed, has a base of about 18 

 inches, and 1 foot in breadth at the top. Hillocks have a base of about 2 feet, and taper 

 upwards so as to give a flat top 1 foot across. If the plants are to be trained as single 

 cordons, the hillocks have their centres about 2 feet 6 inches apart; if the plants are 

 allowed to become large, the mounds ought to be placed in the centre of each light, or 

 not less than 4 feet apart, to secure strong plants able to perfect six or more fruits each, 

 of the largest size. 2. Fresh soil is added to the sides of the ridges or hillocks as the 

 roots protrude, but no more is given than suffices to keep the plants in steady progress 

 until the fruit is set and swelling, when the final earthing is given, either all at once, or 

 at one or two short intervals. 3. The plants are trained with a single stem, and the 

 laterals all rubbed off when quite small to the height of the trellis, as shown in R, Fig. 6. 

 Then the main shoot may be stopped if more than one main growth is required ; other- 

 wise it is allowed to extend to within 1 foot of the top of the trellis before being 

 stopped. 



