386 FORCING GARDEN. 



make the ball adhere together, and come out of the pot 

 entire. After the tops of the hillocks of earth have been 

 flattened a little in the centre of each, a hole is made 

 capable of containing one of the balls of earth which 

 is to be turiied out of the pots. Some of the pots con- 

 taining the strongest plants are selected, and the young 

 melon plants are plunged out, with balls entire, into 

 the ridges or hillocks already .mentioned. After this 

 operation has been performed,, they receive a gentle 

 watering. The sashes are replaced, and for some time, 

 unless ;the vapor be strong, little air is given. Care is 

 taken to prevent the tender fibres from being scorched. 

 When the roots begin to show themselves through the 

 surface of the hillocks, a quantity of fresh earth is ap- 

 plied all around them, and in a week or in a fortnight 

 after, the whole surface of the bed is covered nearly as 

 high as the tdp of the hills. 



"When the plants have got two or three of their rough 

 or perfect leaves, the top of the stalklet, which now be- 

 gins to elangate, is pinched off, and from .the axillae of 

 the leaves lateral shoots are soon shot forth. These 

 are fastened down with pegs, and are so disposed as 

 regularly to cover the surface of the bed.. These- late- 

 rals will sometimes show flowers at the second or third 

 joints; if they do not, they are topped in their turn, 

 and afford other laterals, which seldom fail to be fruit- 

 ful. As these runners advance, they are trained along 

 the^ surface, and all weak, useless shoots are removed. 

 This should be done repeatedly at successive intervals,- 

 as it is found injunous-to cut out a- great quantity of 

 shoots and foliage at one time. No pjant, as has been 

 shown by Mr. Knight {Hortic. Trans. ^ vol. i.), is more 

 beholden to its leaves, both as respects health and fla- 



