MELONS PLANTS FOR TRELLISES. 17 



TRAINING. 



Single Cordons. This is the simplest of all methods. The main shoot is encouraged 

 to grow to about 1 foot from the top of the trellis, and its point is then pinched off. As 

 it advances up the trellis every alternate lateral on both sides of the stem is rubbed off 

 when discernible and less than 6 inches apart, but when the joints are farther apart all 

 the laterals are left. These usually bear female blossoms at the second or third joint, 

 and when three or four open at one time they are fertilised, stopped one joint beyond 

 the fruit, and when three or four fruits are set and swelling on a plant they so appro- 

 priate the nourishment that little further growth is made. Sub-laterals, however, must 



Fig. 6. MELON PLANTS FBOM POTTING-OFF TO PLANTING-OUT FOE TEELLISES. 

 References .- P, plant potted-off : j, seed leaves ; Jc, rough leaf ; Z, growing point. Q, plant ready to put-out, or 

 transfer to 5 or 6-inch pot ; ra, laterals rubbing-off size ; n, tendril to be cut on*. E, plant in 5-inch pot ready to 

 plant ; detached growths laterals rubbed off. S, planted : o, ridge of soil ; p, stake secured to bottom wire of trellis ; 

 q, extent of soil to be added at one earthing. 



be stopped to one leaf as made, and the growths thinned so that the space is occupied 

 with as many good leaves as can have exposure to light. By this system the fruits 

 ripen very closely together, and they so exhaust the plants that they are seldom worth 

 keeping for a second crop. It is a very desirable method to follow with a view to early fruit. 



Alternate System. By this mode every alternate plant is trained on the cordon 

 method to produce two or three fruits each on the first laterals for an early supply ; but 

 the other plants are not allowed to bear on such laterals, which are stopped at the second 



VOL. in. D 



