178 FEUIT. 



about 70' at night, rising to 80° during the day, and to 90° 

 with sun-heat, and plenty of air ; shading when necessary to 

 prevent flagging and scorching, but giving all the light the 

 plants can bear, especially as the crop nears maturity. If 

 the plants are* maintained in a healthy, vigorous state, insects 

 are not troublesome, but if red spider appear, it should be at 

 once attacked with the syringe or the leaves carefully sponged, 

 so as to keep it in check. As the fruit begins to ripen, the 

 water must be gradually withheld, and all the light and air 

 given that is possible while the high temperature is main- 

 tained, and by this means a rich flavour and fine quality is 

 secured. Melons are quite amenable to the stimulating influ- 

 ences of liquid manure, but it must be cautiously applied, so 

 as not to induce rank growth, deteriorating the quality of the 

 fruit, and often ending in disease. Before the fruit is half 

 swelled, each should be supported on a piece of small-meshed 

 galvanised wire-netting about six inches square, and slung by 

 strings from, the trellis at such a distance as the fruit may lie 

 on its side and have perfect freedom to swell to its full size. 

 Cracking of the fruit is the result of careless watering, and 

 under proper management need not be apprehended. Should 

 the fruit ripen too early for the show, it may be cut as soon 

 as it reaches maturity, but not over-ripe, and hung up in a 

 net in a drv cool room, where it will keep sound and good for 

 a fortnight or more with scarcely any loss of flavour. To 

 have a Melon at its best for flavour on the day of the show, 

 it should be quite ripe and cut two or three days previously, 

 and placed in the warmest spot in the house in the full blaze 

 of the sun till it is wanted. Later in the season, for exhibit- 

 ing at shows held from July to September, the Melon requires 

 exactly the same treatment, but it takes less time in summer 

 to reach maturity, about three months suflacing from the time 

 the seed is sown until, under good management, the fruit is 

 ripe and fit for exhibition. 



The chief points in a Melon are ; (1.) Shape, which should 

 be handsome, smooth, and globular, and the netted varieties 

 regularly marked ; (2.) size, which should not be less than 

 18 inches in circumference; and (3.) the flesh thick, tender, 



