MELON. 175 



ibrmer should have a little stronger soil, after thp 

 iirst earthing of the hills. This should be given 

 gradually as the plants seem to require it, gently 

 pressing it down each time with the hand, which 

 will cause it to be sufficiently solid, without having 

 recourse to heavy treading in an early season. 



As soon as it appears that the leading shoots of 

 the plant have grown to two or three joints, their 

 tops should be pinched off, which will cause them 

 to produce lateral shoots, generally called runners. 

 From that time the plants should have a full earth- 

 ing gently sloping from the hills, the runners are to 

 be regularly trained on the surface, which may be 

 thinly covered with dry moss, and at a later season 

 with tiles, or small rough gravel. In the event of 

 an early season, the fruit shown will require setting, 

 and in that case stopped a joint or two beyond ; but 

 for a larger crop the shoots should not be stopped 

 before they reach the side of the frames, when two 

 of the strongest would be fully sufficient, as too 

 frequent stopping only causes a too great multipli- 

 cation of branches. 



During the time the fruit is setting or swelling 

 off, care should be taken to keep up a lively grow- 

 ing heat, about 70 of the thermometer, with light 

 sprinklings of water, more or less, according as the 

 weather is dark or light. 



The question of giving coverings at night, has 

 been glanced at when treating of the cucumber. 

 Air is also fully requisite for the melon in warm 

 still weather, throughout the summer season, as the 

 plants, by being strengthened, will resist any sudden 

 changes in the day-time. 



