APR.]] CUCUMBERS AND MELONS, 385 



and most promising melons, as they appear. Pro- 

 ceed thus : 



The female flower being just full blown, choose 

 a strong, healthy-looking male, cutting or pinching 

 it ofij with the stalk as long as to get good hold of 

 it ; carefully pick off* the corolla or flower-leaves, 

 retaining the stamens and anthers ; take it by the 

 stalk, between the thumb and finger ; apply the 

 anthers to the bosom of the female flower, and give 

 it a sharp twirl j by which the farina or pollen of the 

 male will be rubbed off, and be deposited on the 

 stigma, the female organ of fructification. 



With respect to the future management of the 

 cucumbers, they should have very liberal supplies 

 of water, and always from the rose of the watering- 

 pot, every two or three days ; generally watering in 

 the afternoon about four or five o'clock, as, if done 

 in the morning, now that the sun is powerful, they 

 might be scorched by his rays ; a thing that often 

 happens to tender foliage under glass, if the water 

 poured on it be not evaporated, or be inhaled before 

 the rays fall upon the plant. Do not apply cold or 

 frosted water, but at this season let it be aired by 

 some means or other. 



Air should also be freely admitted every day, in 

 as large portions as the state of the weather will al- 

 low, giving and reducing it by degrees, in the manner 

 as above directed for airing the cherry-house. When 

 a free circulation is wished in the frame, it is better 

 to slip the sashes down than to tilt them; as if 

 they be slipped down the breadth of the bottom rail, 

 the air will get in between the glass and front-board 



Bb 



