58 



GROWING MUSKMELONS IN THE NORTH 



This season we expect to hand-fertilize the flowers to see if the 

 operation is useful. 



Miscellaneous. — The small-sized varieties were more pro- 

 ductive than the large. Also, the rule so frequently quoted, 

 '^ The finer netted, the sweeter the fruit," has too many excep- 

 tions to be relied upon. With some varieties a good index as 



Fig. 2. — Pistillate or Female Blossom. (After Bailey.) 



to ripeness is the cracking about the stem ; many, however, do 

 not have this tendency. 



To ship melons far it is necessary to pick them when at full 

 size, but still green. They are, however, much superior when 

 ripened upon the vines. Early melons are obtained by start- 

 ing the seed in two- or three-inch pots, or in sods, etc., one 

 plant in a pot; then transplanting into a four-inch pot ; from 

 these hardening oft' in a cold frame ; they are then ready for 

 the garden (see Figure 3). We fruited a few varieties in cold 

 frames. The sash was used at first, but was discarded as soon 



