MELONS WATERING AND FEEDING. 21 



The temperature of the house must be maintained at 60 to 65 at night, and 70 to 75 

 by day by artificial means. A little air may be admitted at 75, but the heat should 

 rise steadily to 80 to 85 from sun, and be so kept through the day, closing early on 

 bright afternoons to increase to 90 to 100 with plenty of moisture. Air must be very 

 carefully admitted in early spring in fact, at all times when it is sharp, or the wind 

 strong. During the flowering and ripening periods more air should be given, and the 

 atmosphere kept drier. Never lose an opportunity of closing early in the afternoon 

 when the fruit is swelling, accompanied with abundance of atmospheric moisture. 



Watering and Syringing. Early in the year, and until the fruit sets, water should 

 be supplied carefully, aiming at sturdy, solidified growth, never over-watering, nor 

 allowing the soil to become so dry as to cause the foliage to become limp. When the 

 plants are growing freely and the fruit swelling, abundance of water is required. The 

 watering should be moderated when the fruit is setting and ripening, yet the foliage 

 must not be allowed to flag. Early and late melons are impatient of syringing, but they 

 require a genial atmosphere, which may be secured by damping in the morning, at 

 closing time, and in the evening. During summer the plants may be syringed at 

 closing time on fine days, and the walls and paths well damped three or more times a 

 day. In dull weather less moisture will be required. Always use water warmed to the 

 temperature of the house, 



Feeding. The melon does not relish strong stimulants. Drainings of stables, cow- 

 houses, and piggeries, especially the latter, must be given very cautiously, and diluted 

 with five times their bulk of water. A peck of cow manure to 20 gallons, or a peck of 

 sheep-droppings or fowl manure to 30 gallons of water, form excellent liquid applica- 

 tions for melons, and may be applied once or twice a week during the swelling of the 

 fruit, ceasing before ripening commences. Care must be taken not to supply an over- 

 dose, nor cause a check by applying the liquid cold. 



Superphosphate of lime 5 parts, and nitrate of potash 2 parts, mixed, may be applied 

 as a top-dressing at the rate of 4 ounces per square yard. Three applications are 

 usually sufficient the first when the plants are pushing the fruit-bearing laterals or 

 sub-laterals and before they come into flower ; a second when the fruit is set and com- 

 mences swelling ; and the third in three weeks after the second. The dressings should 

 be lightly washed in. 



Melons Cracking. When the fruit approaches maturity that which has been grown 

 " hard," either through dry ness of the soil or excessive evaporation, not infrequently 



