MEL 



[ 529 ] 



MEL 



Lastly, are the Persians, with their use- 

 ful hybrids. The types of these Persian 

 hybrids are, principally, the Ispahan, the 

 Dampsha, the Germek, and the Hoo- 

 sainee. 



Propagation : by Seed. Most prac 

 tical men prefer old seed to new, as run- 

 ning less to bine. A bottom-heat of 

 from 75 to 85 is essential ; and when 

 the seedlings are up, and just before the 

 second set of leaves begin to appear, the 

 young plants may be potted into five-inch 

 pots, two in a pot, in a soil of three parts 

 strong loam, enriched with manure. A 

 temperature of 70 Q to 80 must be se- 

 cured to them, and the pots should be 

 plunged. As soon as the central shoot 

 begins to sprout fron between the seed- 

 leaves it may be pinched off; and this, 

 if other points be right, will cause the 

 protrusion of a pair, or more, of shoots, 

 more fruitful in character, and these are 

 enough as "leaders." In about a fort- 

 night afterwards they will he fit for the 

 fruitiog-bed. 



By Cuttings. This mode of culture 

 has been recommended by some, as serv- 

 ing to restrict that excessive luxuriance 

 which is frequently inimical to fertile 

 blossoming. Under proper culture the 

 plan answers; but, on the whole, the 

 needling plan is the better. It is, how- 

 ever, a certain mode of perpetuating 

 choice kinds, and as such should not be 

 lost sight of. Healthy, free-growing, yet 

 short-jointed shoots, should be selected, 

 and the usual bottom-heat and atmo- 

 . spheric temperature must be secured ; 

 in addition to this, there must be a 

 liberal amount of atmospheric moisture, 

 and the close treatment, with shading, 

 incidental to the growth of cuttings. 

 When established, the plants will need 

 no " stopping;" and they require a more 

 generous soil when finally planted. 



Subsequent Culture. The melon is 

 fruited by a variety of modes, but in all 

 a certain amount of bottom-heat, as well 

 as atmospheric, is absolutely necessary. 

 The bottom heat should never descend 

 below 70, nor range above 90, whilst 

 an atmosphere not below 65, nor above 

 80, will be most suitable, permitting, 

 however, a rise of eight or ten degrees 

 from sunshine. In no situation can the 

 melon endure shade. 



Culture in the Dung-bed. (For prepa- 

 ration of this see HOTBED.) The earliest 

 melons are generally sown about the 

 34 



middle of January, in a seed-bed spc** 

 cially prepared. Great caution is ne- 

 cessary ; and when the plants are up, 

 and the two seed-leaves fully developed, 

 they may be planted out singly in five- 

 inch pots, in rich soil. About this time 

 the ridging-out bed must be got up for 

 their reception, and this must be com- 

 posed of materials perfectly sweet. Ee- 

 gular ventilation and frequent waterings 

 will soon render the air within perfectly 

 sweet ; and then the hills of soil may 

 be introduced ; in doing which it is 

 good practice to form hollows two-thirds 

 the depth of the bed, and to fill them to 

 the ordinary surface with brickbats or 

 rubble, laying a turf with the grass 

 downwards on the top. and on this the 

 hillocks may be placed. The young 

 plants will, by this time, have produced 

 three or four shoots each, and it is ad- 

 visable to retain two of the best on each. 

 They may now be ridged out, and must 

 afterwards be occasionally watered when 

 dry ; watering, according to the weather, 

 also the sides of the frame and the un- 

 covered dung almost daily. Henceforth, 

 regular linings must be supplied, and 

 those often turned and watered ; main- 

 taining steadily the temperatures, and 

 taking care that the bottom-heat in no 

 part of the interior exceeds 90. As 

 strong linings will be requisite at this 

 early period, much water will be neces- 

 sary twice or thrice a-week, round the 

 insides of the frames, and next to the 

 linings, to prevent burning. As soon 

 as the plants begin to spread, the re- 

 maining soil must be added ; each light 

 requiring, in the whole, from two to 

 three barrowsful. The surface of the 

 bed must be formed convex, the plants 

 occupying the highest point. Two plants 

 are enough for each light, and a shoot 

 may be led to each angle of the light, 

 and then the main shoots, taking the 

 whole light, will form the letter X, the 

 centre of the letter indicating the ridging- 

 out point. As soon as each of these 

 shoots reaches to within from six to nine 

 nches of the frame side, it must be 

 pinched, and the laterals forced out by 

 :his pinching will produce blossoms, 

 some males, others females ; the former 

 generally preponderating. 



The female blossoms must be care- 

 fully "set"' or impregnated daily, choosing 

 about two o'clock, p.m., for the operation, 

 when the farina will be dry. As soon tu 



