422 JVesi Lo7ido7i Gardeners' Association. 



When the plants are ready to put out, which will be about the beginning 

 of March, I would plunge them to the level of the surface, or 1 in. below it, 

 then water and shade them from mid-day sun for a fortnight or longer, if 

 they seemed to require it. I should not be inclined to increase the temperature, 

 from that time until they are commencing to set their fruit, higher than 75°. 



When the plants have been in the pit about a fortnight or three weeks, I 

 would fill it up to the level of the hillocks with the compost, and would give 

 them water a little once at the roots, with no syringing as they are not 

 strong enough to absorb much moisture ; but plenty of air is indispensably 

 necessary to be given at this stage of their growth. As soon as the plants 

 had made their fourth or fifth joint, I would stop them at the third, from which 

 fruit-bearing laterals would be produced, keeping the fruit as close to the main 

 stem as possible, and not allowing the plant to ramble about the pit. If two 

 fruits, through impregnation, remained to each plant, I should be satisfied ; if 

 more showed for the first time, I would take them oiF. 



Between the time they begin to make laterals and their setting, syringe 

 the sides of the pit as I have before recommended, at least twice a week, or 

 three times if the weather permit. Most danger is to be apprehended from 

 the time they commence to set their fruit, and for a fortnight after, when they 

 require all the assistance with which they can be supplied. An increase of 

 temperature from 75° to 80°, with plenty of air, will serve to harden the joung 

 fruit, cold winds to be excluded : when the fruit is commencing to set, no water 

 to be given to the plant, unless the syringings about the sides. Never to 

 forget covering on any night, and this to be done about 5 o'clock in March, espe- 

 cially after syringing ; in April at 6, and in May at 7 o'clock. J consider these 

 hours the best time, but they may be varied a little according to the state of 

 the weather. 



At the last stage, to bring them to a good flavour, I would increase the 

 temperature to 85 , with plenty of air, by which I would expect to cut good 

 fruit about the middle or end of May. From the time of setting to the ma- 

 turation of the fruit, I would not give water to the roots more than twice, as 

 the soil will receive sufficient moisture from the syringings. 



The sorts preferred for early forcing would be the Egyptian Green Flesh, 

 the Old Scarlet Flesh, and the Ispahan. They are not of a large size, but 

 excellent in flavour. I beg to state that at the time of applying my soil in the 

 pit to level it with the hillocks, I would press it pretty hard with my feet, as I 

 think it prevents the roots from running through it more than their proper 

 growth requires, and makes it retentive of the portion of moisture which it 

 absorbs from syringings. I would also recommend slates to be laid under the 

 melons, as I have found them to do well, even better, in my opinion, than 

 tiles. 



Mr. Caie approved of the application of linings in pits, by which the heat 

 was more regular than if it were exposed to the variation of the surrounding 

 atmosphere, by which it would be more or less affected according to the state 

 of the weather. He approved of lime, when used with discretion, and con- 

 sidered it would be well to enquire how vegetable life was affected by it, that 

 we may know the proper proportions which constitute the soils most suitable 

 for different sorts of plants ; and also to examine into the advantages or dis- 

 advantages of softening the seed in milk. 



Mr. Shearer considered that Mr. Keane's paper opened a fine field for dis- 

 cussion on the jmelon. He recommended the seed to be sown in 48-sized 

 pots, covered about half an inch deep, the temperature for the seed-bed to be 

 70", and when planted out 75°. He preferred to stop the runners at the third 

 joint, and could not see the advantage of shading them at that season when 

 the influence of light was so much desired. 



Mr. Sherwood preferred dung beds to pits. He believed that when the 

 roots extended to the old dung they were invigorated to produce strong run- 

 ners and good fruit. 



Mr.W. Keane objected to the use of dung, which excites the plants to pro- 

 duce unproductive runners. The compost he used was good maiden loam, the 



