MEL 



[ 59-2 ] 



MEL 



more fruitful in character, and these 

 are enough as " leaders." In about a 

 fortnight afterwards they will be fit for 

 the fruiting bed. 



By Cuttings. This mode of culture 

 has been recommended by some as 

 serving to restrict that excessive luxu- 

 riance which is frequently inimical to 

 fertile blossoming. Under proper cul- 

 ture the plan answers ; but, on the 

 whole, the seedling plan is the better. 

 It is, however, a certain mode of per- 

 petuating choice kinds, and as such 

 should not be lost sight of. Healthy, 

 free-growing, yet short-jointed shoots, 

 should be selected, and the usual bot- 

 tom-heat and atmospheric temperature 

 must be secured ; in addition to this, 

 there must be a liberal amount of at- 

 mospheric moisture, and the close 

 treatment, with shading, incidental to 

 the growth of cuttings. When esta- 

 blished, 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 ne- 

 cessary. The bottom-heat should never 

 descend below 70, nor range above 

 90, whilst an atmosphere not below 

 65, nor above 80, will be most suit- 

 able; permitting, however, a rise of 

 eight or ten degrees from sunshine. 

 In no situation can the melon endure 

 shade. 



Culture in the Dunq-bed. (For pre- 

 paration of this see Hot-bed.} The ear- 

 liest melons are generally sown about 

 the middle of January, in a seed-bed 

 specially prepared. Great caution is 

 necessary ; and Avhen the plants are up, 

 and the two seed-leaves fully developed, 

 they may be planted out singly in iive- 

 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. Re- 

 gular ventilation, and frequent water- 

 ings, 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 brick- 



bats 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 

 good practice 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 uncovered clung, almost 

 daily. Henceforth, regular linings 

 must be supplied, and those often 

 turned and watered ; maintaining stea- 

 dily 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 necessary 

 twice or thrice a-week, round the in- 

 sides 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 in- 

 dicating the ridging-out point. As soon 

 as each of these shoots reach to within 

 from six to nine inches of the frame 

 side, they must be pinched, and the la- 

 terals forced out by this pinching will 

 produce blossoms, some males, others 

 females ; the former generally prepon- 

 derating. 



The female blossoms must be care- 

 fully "set" or impregnated daily, chos- 

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

 operation, when the farina will be dry. 

 As soon as from three to four fruit are 

 secured on each plant, and these are as 

 large as a pigeon's egg, all the blossoms 

 must be kept cut away, male and 

 female, as they appear. Each axillary 

 shoot with a fruit must be pinched or 

 stopped three or four eyes beyond the 

 fruit ; and frequent stopping practised 

 with all the other portions, removing at 

 all times coarse shoots which threaten 

 to overpower the bearing portions, The 



