1 64 A YEAR'S WORK IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



hearted kinds being the best to sow now. Plant out from frames and 

 seed-pans. A few forward plants may be tied, but as a rule tying is 

 less desirable than most people suppose. Certainly, after tying, the 

 hearts soon rot if not quickly eaten, and as fine Lettuces as can be 

 desired may now be grown without tying, the close- hearting sorts 

 being very much improved in that respect. 



MELON. Sow again for a second crop in houses, and grow the 

 plants in pots until they reach a foot high. The early crop will then 

 be ripe, and the house can be cleared and syringed for a fresh start. 

 From this sowing fruit should be ready about the beginning of July. 

 The frame culture advised for Cucumbers will be right for Melons, 

 until the fruit attain the size of a small orange. Then a thorough 

 soaking must be given, and under proper management no more water 

 should be necessary. A dry atmosphere and free ventilation are 

 essential to bring the fruit to perfection. Stopping must be com- 

 menced early by pinching out the leader, and only one eye should be 

 allowed beyond the fruit which are to remain. Six will be enough 

 for one plant to carry, and they should be nearly of a size, for if one 

 fruit obtains a strong lead, it will be impossible to ripen the others. 

 The remainder should be gradually removed while young. The 

 worst foe of the Melon is red spider, and it is difficult to apply 

 a remedy without doing mischief. Water will destroy it, but this 

 may have -disastrous results on the fruit. The best preventive is 

 stout well-grown plants. Weakly specimens appear to invite attack, 

 and are incapable of struggling against it. Still under the best 

 management it is sometimes difficult to finish off Melons without 

 having red spider to assist in the operation. Melon plants are 

 occasionally lost through decay at the collar. The best means of 

 preventing it is to lay small pieces of charcoal in a circle round the 

 stem. 



ONION to be sown for winter use, if not already done, or if any 

 mishap has befallen former sowings. This task must be disposed of 

 early, for Onions should have good hold of the ground before hot 

 weather comes. 



ONIONS FOR PICKLING should be grown thickly on poor ground 

 made firm. The plants are not to be thinned, but may be allowed 

 to stand as thick as pebbles on the sea-shore. The starving system 

 produces abundance of small handsome bulbs that ripen early, which 

 are the very things wanted for pickling. The Queen and Paris 

 Silver-skin are adapted for the purpose. 



PARSLEY to be sown in plenty for summer and autumn supply ; 



