,70 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



saved by ha\-ing young plants in four-inch or five-inch pots, ready for planting 

 in the house again when the other crop is gathered; i)ut tiie young plants should 

 not be allowed to get pot-bound, or failure will be tlie result. 



RAISING YOUNG PLANTS 



There is no better place to germinate the seed than the Melon house itself. 

 Use 2-inch pots for the purpose, with a fair amount of leaf soil to encourage 

 quick root action. Fill the pots about three parts full of soil and press moder- 

 ately firm; then place a couple of seeds in each pot and cover with one-half inch 

 of soil. Should both seeds germinate, pull one out. If the pots are set in a 

 close, dark place the seed will germinate more readily. There being very little 

 evaporation not much water is needed. An ordinary flat is good for the purpose; 

 set the pots close together, cover with glass and keep dark with paper or card- 

 board. If Melon seed gets too much water before germination, part of it is 

 liable to perish. 



When the seedlings show signs of growth, remove to full light near the glass. 

 Try to induce a stocky, healthy growth as the plant gets rooted. Repot into 

 three and one-half-inch pots, with somewhat heavier soil. From these pots 

 the feedlings may be planted on the bench, or if the house is not quite ready, 

 repot into five-inch pots. Success or failure in fruiting thrifty young stock 

 depends very largely on the condition of the plants when set or planted in the 

 bench. This is one of the main considerations in all plant life, but while other 

 stock that has received a check may sometimes be brought around to yield fair 

 results, the Melon is a stubborn plant; if it has received a set-back in any way, 

 the progress will be slow and the results very unsatisfactory. Therefore, only 

 vigorous, healthy young plants should be set out. I have planted them on the 

 bench out of two-inch pots, but I prefer setting out stronger plants; these will 

 quickly start to root through the new soil, and make rapid progress. 



