May 1, 1889.] 



Garden and Forest. 



211 



Tlie finest Muskmclon I have ever tasted, quality alone con- 

 sidered, is the Algiers Cantaloupe of the French catalogues. 

 The fruit is of large size, with flesh of remarkable fhick- 

 ness, very firm in texture and of surpassing flavor. Unfortu- 

 nately it ripens so late that it is not certain of maturing in the 

 Northern States. I am now experimenting with this variety as 

 a parent for crossing with our best early sorts, from which I 

 hope to be able to increase the firmness and thickness of the 

 flesh, and to heighten its flavor. 



The suggestions offered in relation to the culture of the 

 Muskmelon apply as well to the Watermelon. 



Experiment station, Madison, Wis. E. S. Goff. 



A Few Early Cucumbers. 



CUCUMBERS are acceptable to most people, and those 

 grown on the vines in the home garden have a special 

 excellence of flavor. To obtain them earlier than can be 



May. I find a box eighteen inches square the best ])rotection ; 

 this has a glass cover to be kept on in cool weather, and removed 

 as the sun-heat is more or less strong. In this way a few 

 hills, say ten or a dozen, can be brought forward in advance of 

 the crop planted in the ground. 



There is nothing that gives more satisfaction for an early 

 cucLunber than the White Spine, under some; of its names. 

 This is large enough, early, tender, and of good sh;ipc. F"or a 

 later crop the Para is excellent ; it is a profuse bearer and is fully 

 equal to any of the cucimil)ers for the table, though it cannot 

 be called early; neither can the (ireen Pickling. Cucumbers 

 need manure under the plant in the hill and a rich soil besides 

 to do their best. 



The White Spine can be grown in a space of one yard 

 for a hill, if cramped for room, leaving five plants in a hill. 

 I put wood-ashes and l)one-dust in the hill, mixed with tlic 

 soil. A pint in each hill will hurry them on rapidly. In my 



The Gardens of Levens Hall. — See page 206. 



done from seeds planted in the open ground, plant now in boxes 

 containing al)out three inches of earth, lay six or eight seeds 

 in a group three inches apart, over them sift enough fine dirt 

 to cover one-half inch deep. I use soil from the hot-beds for 

 this purpose. This being used continually from year to year, 

 and mixed with the manure in the bed each year," becomes, in 

 time, specially adapted to such work, being full of plant-food, 

 and does not pack under repeated waterings, as ordinary 

 soil will. 



In the absence of such a source of supply, sand and loam, 

 mixed, and having s.ome chemical plant-food in it, will do. 

 Set the box in a sunnv window and when the seeds break 

 groimd, let the windows down from the top, or carry the box 

 outside, in a sunny, warm, shelteretl spot for a while each day. 

 Retiu-n them early in the afternoon to the house. After they 

 are well up transfer them to hills in the garden placing some 

 protection over them. This can be done in the early i)art of 



locality the first of July is early for the first specimen grown 

 'with this treatment, and this is about two weeks ahead of 

 planting in open ground. When sliced, kept in cold water for an 

 hour, and dropped into sharp vinegar, they will not disturb the 

 weakest digestion. A cucimiber kept a while on ice is much 

 better than one fresh from the vine. W. H. Bull. 



West Springfield, Mass. 



Orchid Notes. 



Oncidhiin ainpliatnm majtis was first tliscovereil about fifty 

 years ago in Costa Rica, and afterwards in other localities 

 in Central America, where it enjoys a maximum temperature 

 of about 85° Fahr. It is still often to be met within collec- 

 tions, though not so frequently as formerly, owing to the in- 

 troduction of larger-lloweretl ami, according to some, prettier 

 species. Oncidiuin aiiipliatuin niajiis may, even in these 

 days, be reckoned among the very finest representatives of 



