16 JANUARY WORK OF THE SEASON. 



very much tried by the heating action of the sun, 

 and to keep their roots cool it is advisable to drop 

 the pots into larger ones and fill the space between 

 the two with moss. This is the proper way to use 

 ornamental pots, and the dressing of moss may be 

 made to hide the inside pot which contains the plant, 

 by arranging it neatly over the surface of the soil. 

 Forcing Pit. Melons swelling fruit should have 

 plenty of weak manure-water ; those ripening their 

 fruit to be kept tolerably dry, but if kept too dry 

 they will get infested with red spider, so endeavour 

 to keep them in good health on the smallest possible 

 supplies, and give plenty of air. Those that have 

 borne good crops may be cut back and set to work 

 again with the help of lining to the beds. Keep 

 these rather close after pruning in, aud frequently 

 sprinkle the sides of the frames and the surface of 

 the bed, and give only moderate waterings at the 

 root. Never allow water to fall on the main stems. 

 If the plants cut in appear rather poor, let them 

 break moderately, and then remove a portion of the 

 soil from one side of the roots and replace it with 

 fresh turfy loam. When the roots have run into the 

 new stuff do the same on the other side, and they 

 will swell a second crop admirably. 



