MELONS, CULTURE OF. 



3H MELONS, CULTURE OF. 



produce abundantly large spikes of flowers 

 of a brownish-red colour. It requires a 

 rich, light soil. It may be propagated 

 by seeds or cuttings taken in spring and 

 placed under a handglass. 



Melons, Culture of. 



The culture of the melon is very similar 

 to that of the cucumber. The preparation 

 of the manure, making the bed, raising the 

 plants, the stopping and setting, are the 

 same ; but the soil in which they are finally 

 planted should be trodden down rather 



TYPES OF MELONS (A) GREEN-FLESHED, NETTED ; 

 (fi) CANTALOUP. 



firmly ; and as the fruit appears all nearly 

 about the same time, it is advisable to have 

 them swell off as nearly as possible to- 

 gether ; otherwise, the most forward will 

 take the lead, and become much larger 

 than the other. Two melons on a plant 

 are as much as can be expected to do well ; 

 but never more than three should be allowed, 

 to remain : pinch off all the rest, and every 

 other unnecessary growth. It is important 

 that the plants be not allowed to ramble 

 after the fruit has begun to swell, for this 



will require the whole strength of the 

 plant. The fruit takes some four or five 

 weeks, occasionally more, from the time of 

 setting to the time of ripening, which is 

 indicated by the stalk appearing to separate 

 from the fruit. They should be cut and 

 used on the day this takes place, or very 

 soon after. 



Second Crop, Production of. As soon as 

 the fruit is cut (if it is intended that they 

 should bear a second crop), prune back 

 the shoots to where the fresh growth com- 

 mences. Two or three inches of fresh loam 

 should be spread over the surface of the 

 bed, which should at the same time have 

 a good soaking with manure water, to 

 assist the plants to make a fresh growth ; 

 an additional stimulus at the same time 

 should be given to the roots by slightly 

 increasing the bottom heat. Bring forward 

 the succeeding crops, and take every means 

 to keep down the red spider, which, when 

 once established on the foliage, is most 

 difficult to destroy. 



Moisture, Regulation of. Melons, while 

 ripening their fruk, are very liable to crack 

 when exposed to moisture, or when water 

 is supplied too freely to theii roots. This 

 is more likely to happen with the higher 

 flavoured ones, from the thinness of their 

 skin. In common frames some difficulty 

 will be found in keeping the air sufficiently 

 dry. To prevent this in moist weather, 

 air must be left on at night both back and 

 front, to admit of a slight circulation ; and 

 a little extra heat should be thrown into 

 the bed, to keep up the temperature, by 

 turning over linings. Where, however, 

 melons are grown by the assistance of hot 

 water, an atmosphere can be maintained 

 which will fully carry out the ripening 

 process of this delicious fruit, even in 

 unfavourable weather. In watering melons, 

 great caution must be used in supplying 

 only the exact quantity wanted, as an 

 excess of water at the roots only tends 



