Melocactus 



( 67) 



Melon 



MELOCACTUS. (MELON THISTLE.) 



Description. Curious succulents (ord. Cacteae) 

 with globular, unbranched steins, regularly ribbed 

 from bottom to top. At the point where these 

 ridges meet is a cylindrical process known as the 

 "cap." The ridges and cap are spiny, and the 

 name " Melon Thistle " suggests at once this globu- 

 lar shape and spiny character. Few species are in 

 cultivation. Communis is the commonest, and even 

 this is often rather difficult to grow. All are found 

 naturally in very dry, rocky, or sandy tracts, and 

 under cultivation they must have a high tempera- 

 ture, a comparatively small quantity of soil of a 

 very porous nature, little water, and free drainage. 

 Damp, foggy winters are inimical to their health, 

 and even with the greatest care, deaths will occur 

 from too much moisture. 



Propagation. Grafting has been recommended 

 for Melocacti, Cereus peruvianus being the stock, 

 and the time in the warm weather. As the juicy 

 centre tissue of the scion contracts, and the tough 

 epidermis does not, it is necessary to pare off the 

 latter for at least 1" above the point of contact. 

 Increase may also be by seed, but this is often 

 difficult to obtain. 



Soil. Loam two parts, crushed bricks one part. 



Other Cultural Points. Newly imported stems 

 are occasionally lost through being given water 

 soon after arrival. They should be kept dry for 

 quite a fortnight. Rotten pieces should be cutback 

 to sound tissue, and the wounds exposed to the air 

 for a few days, to induce them to callus over. 



Principal Species : 



communis, 1' to li', 12 to 20 ridges, ro. red. 

 Melon Cactus, Turk's Cap. 



Other Species : 



(lepressus, Jy., ro. 

 Ellemetii, ro. 



schlumbergianus, 6", 

 spines wh., blk. tipped. 



Miquehi, 1' to 1J', oral. 



There are a number of species in Continental 

 u;i n lens which, so far, are strangers to this country ; 

 nmcenus, goniodacanthus, humilis, Lehmanni, py- 

 ramidalis, and Zuccarinii are among them. 



MELON. 



The Melon (ord. Cucurbitaceje) differs from the 

 Cucumber in requiring a rather firmer soil, a 

 higher temperature, no shade except in its earliest 

 stages, and more air. Thus, while winter Cucum- 

 bers are obtainable, winter Melons are not; it 

 being difficult to give them the needful conditions. 

 Late crops of Melons, which ripen after the heat of 

 the sun has much declined, are seldom of good 

 quality. They are lacking in flavour, and rarely 

 " finish " properly, although they may be of lar-e 

 size. 



Soil. A good, strong loam, inclining to be heavy, 

 is the best for Melons. The top spit from an old 

 pasture is excellent, but it should be stacked at 

 least six months before it is used. If it is very 

 heavy, an addition of one-fourth of leaf mould may 

 lie made, but care should be exercised in this 

 direction, or gross, succulent growth will be the 

 result. This applies to the fruiting plants. The 



Melon Cm-til* (sec Melocactus eomnmnit). 

 Melon. Musk (< Cucurlita mosi-hata) 

 Melon Pumpkin (see Cucurbita Pepo). 

 Melon Tliixtle (gee Melocaetus). 

 Melon, Water (see Citrullus rulgaris). 



seed may be sown in a mixture of three-fourths of 

 loam and one-fourth of leaf soil. 



Seed Sowing, and the Care of Young Plants. 

 The ftrst batch of seed should be sown not later 

 than the middle of January. Small, well-drained 

 thumb pots may have one plump seed placed in 

 each, in the middle. The pots should be plunged 

 in a bottom heat of not less than 75, with an 

 atmospheric temperature of 70. In any lower 

 temperature, germination will be slow and un- 

 certain. Give air cautiously as the young plants 

 make their appearance ; then, just as the first 

 " rough " leaf makes its appearance, pot into 

 4J" pots. Little firming of the soil is needed 

 beyond a few smart taps upon the bench, and the 

 gentle pressure of the fingers. Return the plants, 

 to the case to give them a start. Planting in. 

 the fruiting quarters may follow when each plant, 

 carries two or three large leaves. It is a mistake- 

 to allow them to become pot-bound. From tha 



How TO RAISE MELONS. 



A, seed ; 6, embryo ; c, germinating. B, pot : rf crock 

 e, rough soil ; /, flne soil ; g , seed ; *, covering; ;, space 

 for top.dres.smg. C, seedling top-dressed : ;, soil 

 /. stem ; m, seed leaves ; n, rough leaf ; o, growiiig 

 point. C', seedling intended for a trellis, not to be 

 stopped. D, plant to be trained over a bed, stopped 

 (u). E, ready for planting : ,, *, laterals. 



middle of January to the middle of July a sowing 

 may be made every three weeks, to keep up the 

 succession. 



Culture in Houses. The best Melons are grown 

 in pits or houses which enable the gardener to 

 walk underneath the plants. For early crops the 

 pits are usually "lean-to," or "three-quarter 

 span, facing south, and about W wide, made up 

 as to 2' 6" for the gangway, 3' for the back bed 

 (usually devoted to Cucumbers), and 4' " for the 

 front bed, where the Melons are quartered. The 

 beds have brick sides, and pipes should run through 

 them to keep up a supply of bottom heat. There are 

 wider houses, and 12' is a common width. The plants 

 may be trained either to wires permanentlv fixed 

 to the roof, or to movable w1? trellises. The latter 

 are the better, for they rtffbid greater facilities for 

 cleaning the house 'aftier each crop. The beds 

 should be filled levS'to the top of the brickwork 

 with fermenting mat&lal ; stable litter and leaves 

 are an excellent mixture, as they give a brisk and 

 lasting heat. The litter should be turned twice or 

 thrice before being placed in the house, so 

 as to get rid of the noxious gases. It must be 

 trodden down very firmly in order to discount, as 

 far as possible, subsequent shrinkage. The soil 





