MEL ONSFER TIL IS A TION A ND BE A RING. 



tion is generally performed by detaching a male flower, removing the corolla, and then 

 gently brushing the anthers over the stigma of the flower intended to set fruit, as shown 

 in the illustration (Fig. 7, V). This is usually effectual, but it is safer to apply pollen 



Fig. 7. SETTING THE FRUIT, AND MODES OF BEARING IN MELONS. 



Reference'! : T, male or staminate flower with one petal removed : r, corolla ; s, stamens. U, female or 

 pistillate flower : t, ovary (fruit) ; u, stigma ; v, flower (T) denuded of corolla and pollen applied. V, lateral on 

 cordon system : w, staminate ; x, pistillate flowers ; y, tendril detached ; 2, point to be pinched off at fertilisation. 

 W, alternate system bearing on sub-laterals : a, lateral pinched at the second joint from the main shoot 

 (6) ; c, sub-laterals ; d, male flowers ; e, female flower after fertilisation ; /, flowers ready for fertilising ; g, flower 

 before expansion ; h, points of sub-laterals pinched off two joints beyond the second fruit. X, lateral on the extension 

 system : 7, fruit set ; /, fruit not set ;- Jc, flower after fertilisation ; I, point of stopping if space be limited ; m, point of 

 stopping where space admits of extension. 



by means of a camel's-hair brush. Impregnation, as it is called, is best performed on 

 a fine day, after the house has been freely ventilated, say at noon, as the pollen must 

 be dry even if extra fire heat has to be afforded in dull weather. On the cordon system 



D 2 



