206 On Melons. 



bed about 15 in. apart, with a fine sweet moist heat, such as 

 could be breathed comfortably, about 75° to 85°. Excess in 

 quantity of heat is not so much to be feared as inferior quality 

 of heat. A strong heat will rarefy the air and cause ventilation ; 

 to facilitate which, a small aperture should be left open, say 

 \ of an inch, at the top of every light, and this eighteen or twenty 

 hours out of the twenty-four. The time that 1 should shut up 

 close, would be at uncovering in the morning (which should be 

 done as soon as it is light) ; and after syringing or steaming them 

 in the evening, when no more air is wanted for the day heat. 



Plants raised from cuttings show fruit with less vine than 

 those reared from seeds ; and this is the best remedy, in con- 

 junction with keeping them rather dry at the roots, for the ever- 

 crying evil, that the " vines have run all over the bed without 

 showing fruit." I should prefer leaving a plant reared from a 

 cutting entire, without stopping, until it shows fruit; those raised 

 from seed must be topped, as they generally draw up weak and 

 long-jointed, if left entire. I should top them for the first time, 

 as soon as they show the rough leaf, and again as they advance, 

 say, when they have made 2 ft. of vine, in order to produce 

 fruitful laterals. When fruit appears, they must be carefully 

 managed to prevent sudden atmospheric changes; and, during 

 the time that they are in flower, water over head must be dis- 

 pensed with, and gentle vapour only occasionally raised, to 

 nourish the leaves, for it would be injurious to keep the flowers 

 too moist at this time. Every female blossom must now be care- 

 fully impregnated ; and, as soon as the fruits are set and beginning 

 to swell, plenty of moisture and a closer atmosphere will be 

 of the greatest service till they are swelled full size, when mois- 

 ture at the root, and also vapour on the leaves, must be finally 

 dispensed with. As soon as a reasonable number of fruits are 

 swelling favourably, say three to six on a plant, the rest, with 

 every leaf and lateral, for which some good reason is not 

 pledged, must unsparingly be discarded ; leaving always one 

 leaf, or perhaps two, beyond every fruit ; and let every fruit be 

 elevated on an inverted earthen saucer. To grow very early 

 melons, dry heat is indispensable, as every leaf, in moist weathei', 

 ought to be carefully dried once every day ; and, in hot weather, 

 every leaf ought to be as carefully moistened, by means of va- 

 pour or syringing. Before the fruit appears, and also when it is 

 ripening oflP, a well ventilated atmosphere is best; but, whilst the 

 fruits are swelling, closeness and humidity will be found to answer 

 the purpose best. An occasional dusting of powdered charcoal 

 and lime, mixed with sulphur and Scotch snuff, will go far to 

 prevent the ravages of insect enemies. 



The bed must be soiled over to the same depth as the ridge 

 was originally made, at different times, as the progress of the 



