CALENDAR. 295 



surface of the borders of those swelling off their fruit, and 

 syringe them, freely on fine afternoons till they begin to 

 change colour, after which syringe no more till the fruit are 

 all gathered. Let no amount of care and trouble be con- 

 sidered too much in order to keep the foliage of the early 

 trees from which the fruit are all gathered healthy and clean. 

 Keep them cool, and mix a little flower of sulphur in the 

 water with which they are syringed. This is an excellent 

 preventive of red-spider, and peaches seem to like sulphur 

 about their leaves. Attend to the borders, and see that they 

 do not become too dry and crack. Attend carefully to the 

 growths of young growing trees, and tie them in their proper 

 places, avoiding crowding them. 



Figs. Where fruit are ripening cease syringing, and give 

 a free circulation of warm dry air. Where the first crop is 

 all gathered, and the second advancing, see that the trees are 

 well fed. Give the border a mulching of rich manure, and 

 water copiously. The syringe must be used freely every fine 

 afternoon to prevent red-spider, except, of course, where fruit 

 are ripening. 



Melons. Melons, especially those now swelling their fruit, 

 require much more water than is good for them when the 

 days are shorter, and the sun less powerful. But at the same 

 time avoid frequent driblets, and give a few thorough soak- 

 ings instead. Keep the surface of the soil fresh, and prevent 

 its cracking. A final watering should be given before the 

 fruit begins to ripen, putting a thin layer of mushroom-dung 

 over the surface of the bed. Remove all superfluous growths, 

 and slightly syringe the foliage on fine afternoons up till the 

 time the fruit begins to ripen, then keep the house or pit 

 dry, give more air, and expose the fruit to the sun. Plant 

 out for a late crop about the middle of the month. Melons 

 may be planted later, and ripened late in autumn, but they 

 are seldom much worth, and it is not generally done. 



Cucumbers. Water those in full bearing copiously with 



