ON AN IMPROVED MODE OF CULTIVATING THE MELON. 271 



by which one offspring is very abundantly fed whilst another starves ; 

 and hence often arises the great disparity in the quality of fruit of the 

 same plant. 



This cannot occur when each plant has a single fruit only to support, 

 and is given a sufficient extent of foliage ; and, under this mode of culture, 

 the most shy and the most free bearer become equally productive ; for 

 every plant will readily offer all that is wanted a single fruit. 



I have already stated that I think a melon-plant of any saccharine 

 variety will require about fifteen inches square of glass roof for every 

 pound of fruit ; and in this calculation I include glass of good quality. 

 There may possibly be varieties of the melon which will afford a larger 

 produce than that above-mentioned ; but whatever variety be cultivated, 

 I feel confident that quite as large a produce may be obtained by the 

 mode of culture above recommended as by any other ; and I cannot but 

 believe a larger produce of good fruit, owing to the advantages of a 

 constant supply of warm air, and the power of giving, and of perma- 

 nently maintaining, in the bed a high and regular temperature, without 

 the introduction of steam, and the power of securing to each fruit its due 

 share of nutriment. I am also of opinion that great advantages might 

 be thus obtained in the very early culture of the cucumber. The cavity 

 of the bed might be filled with leaves, or other material which would 

 afford a temperate and permanent heat ; whilst a current of warm and 

 dry air would be made to flow constantly into the bed above the level of 

 the mould in which the plants were placed. When the bed is intended 

 for this purpose, the perforations through the bricks should be confined 

 to those which stand above the level of the mould. 



As soon as the crop of melons in my bed was expended, the pots were 

 removed, and others of smaller size, and containing pine-apple plants, 

 were introduced and supported upon a frame of wood at proper distance 

 from the glass, a new lining being at the same time given to the bed. 

 These plants have subsequently thriven exceedingly, and I entertain no 

 doubt of their continuing to thrive through the winter; for the powers 

 of a constant, though small, current of heated air to sustain a high 

 temperature are very great, operating not only by introducing heat, but 

 also in opposing the ingress of the cold external air, a circumstance to 

 which I particularly wish to attract the attention of the gardener. 



I will take this opportunity of suggesting an improvement in the con- 

 struction of the common pine-stove. If the wall which surrounds the bark- 

 bed were made hollow, and its cavity given a communication beneath the 

 soil (as in the hot-bed I have described), at its lower corners, with the 



