CULTIVATION OF FRUIT 473 



weather is bright. Little water is needed at first until the fruits have 

 set, then give more and syringe freely until ripening commences. 

 More air and less moisture will be needful to secure full flavour. In 

 a house a liberal 



Temperature must be maintained. At planting, say, in January, 

 65 degrees at night or 60 degrees in any cold weather will suffice, 

 with a rise of 10 degrees during the day; it is better to promote free 

 growth during daylight than risk over-heating during cold nights. 

 To save hard firing cover the glass with mats or canvas, and stronger 

 growth results. When the fruits have set a few degrees higher tem- 

 perature will be beneficial, but careful ventilation is more important. 

 On some cold days it will be impossible to ventilate freely, but by 

 damping down the house and care in firing the temperature can be 

 maintained. 



Melons, unless when first planted, need no shade of any kind. Inure 

 them to the full sun as soon as the roots obtain hold of the soil. On the 

 other hand, if there is free exposure, too much fire heat, and insufficient 

 atmospheric moisture, the plants will suffer from insect pests, such 

 as red-spider and black-fly. For the former syringe freely with 

 tepid water, to which add soft soap to make it like milk and a lump of 

 sulphur the size of an egg, and well mix. Shade the glass for a few 

 days and keep both house and plants moist and the spider will soon 

 disappear, as it cannot exist in a moist house. Black-fly is as trouble- 

 some and needs even stronger measures. Dip the affected points of 

 the shoots in tobacco water. Syringe the plants with a weaker solution 

 and fumigate twice a week when the soil is dry, but in the intervals 

 maintain a moister atmosphere, as the pest delights in dry heat. In 

 very bad cases it may be necessary to sponge the leaves, but, if 

 possible, the pest should be destroyed in its early stages. 



Another disease, more difficult to eradicate, is canker of the stem, 

 and if not arrested the whole plant sometimes collapses. When first 

 seen put finely-powdered fresh lime over the cankered portion, and 

 always keep the soil dry near the stem when watering. Canker is 

 also caused by allowing a too free growth, severe stopping, too sudden 

 fall of temperature, and excess of moisture. 



Soil. A good stiff loamy soil should be chosen for Melons, and 

 this with a small portion of bone-meal or fine old mortar rubble makes 

 a good compost. Manures are unnecessary; it is wiser to rely on 

 surface foods given when required. The soil also should not be sifted, 

 but left in a rough state, using a little fine material round the roots 

 at planting. Some growers do not make a bed, but place a ridge or 

 heap of soil at the start, say half a bushel to a plant. This is increased 

 by another when the fruits are set, and of a little richer material. 

 Make the soil quite firm, and stake firmly and carefully. Use tepid 

 water for watering and syringing, and put the plants out on the beds 

 at 3 feet apart in the house. They may be a little nearer if the 

 variety is a compact grower, and 4 feet may be given if two growths 

 are taken from one plant. To do this stop the plants at from 12 



