384 THE FORCING GARDEN. [APR. 



they be of the proper early sorts, the golden or 

 orange cantelope. 



There is a very delicate and nice operation to be 

 performed on the flowers of melons at this time, in 

 order the better to insure their setting, ripening, 

 and the maturation and fertility of their seeds, 

 which is, impregnating the female flowers by the 

 males *. It is more necessary that melons be im- 

 pregnated, as noticed below, than cucumbers, un- 

 less with respect to such cucumbers as are intend- 

 ed to be reserved for seed ; because cucumbers will 

 grow, and will arrive at full size, without the female 

 flowers being impregnated. So will melons ; but 

 their seeds will be abortive, nor will the fruit swell 

 off so fair and handsome t. 



Therefore, let nature be assisted in this work, 

 considering that she is more under restraint here, 

 than as if the plants grew in the open air, where 

 the wind, insects, and other casualties might be help- 

 ing. Select the fairest and most shapely cucum- 

 bers that you would have seed of; and the strongest 



* The cucumber and melon are of the genus Cucuvyis, and of 

 the class and order Moncecia Syngenesis, LIN. the same plant 

 producing male and female flowers. 



f I have convinced myself of this fact by actual experiments, 

 thus: by placing a small bell glass (such as is used for striking 

 cuttings of exotic plants) on the embryo fruit ere the blossom 

 opened, and keeping it close down till the corolla faded, so that 

 the farina of the male flower could have no access, by wind, by 

 insects, or by any means visible. 



