THE MELON 87 



produce two stems instead of one, making four stems in the space under each 

 light, and these should be disposed on the soil something in the way of a 

 Maltese cross. When these growths are 2J feet long, again stop them ; 

 lateral shoots will then push out from the stem, and upon these the fruits 

 will be produced. As soon as a good set of fruit is secured (by carefully fer- 

 tilising the female blossoms with pollen from the male flowers), two fruits to a 

 stem, that is, four fruits to a plant, a quantity of warm soil should be added as 

 a top dressing. Half a barrow-load of soil to two plants will be sufficient, it 

 should be firmly pressed down, and no further addition will be necessary. 

 Keep lateral growths under control, by stopping and cutting out, as becomes 

 necessary to prevent overcrowding. When the fruits are the size of swans' 

 eggs, they should be raised from the surface of the border, and placed on inverted 

 flower pots for better exposure to light and sunshine. With careful attention 

 to ventilation, syringing, and closing the house early in the afternoon, the 

 plants will make good progress, and soon reward the grower with an excellent 

 crop of ripe fruit. Watering must not be neglected ; use tepid water, with 

 occasional waterings of diluted manure water from the stableyard, or guano 

 water. On no account must water come into direct contact with the main 

 stem of the plant at its base, certainly not nearer than two inches to it, other- 

 wise there is great danger of the stem damping off, the plants collapsing, 

 and the crop being sacrificed. It is not safe to commence melon culture in 

 cold frames before the end of March, and as long as cold evenings and 

 nights continue the frames must be covered with mats ; at first three mats 

 thick will be none too many, gradually reducing to one as warmer weather 

 approaches. 



Insect Enemies. — Green and black fly are most troublesome, when the 

 melon plants are young. They can then be destroyed by means of a small soft 

 brush, and, when the plants are larger, by slight fumigation with " XL-ALL " 

 Vaporizer. Red spider is sometimes troublesome. The best way to deal 

 with this is on its first appearance to sponge the affected leaves with warm 

 water in which soft soap and sulphur have been mixed, in the proportion of 

 one wine-glassful of the former and two of the latter to a gallon of water. 

 Frequent syringings with tepid rain water will afterwards keep this pest 

 in check. 



Varieties. — These are innumerable, and almost every grower has his 

 favourites. There are three sorts of melons, namely, those with green, scarlet, 

 or white flesh. The following may be relied upon for culture in a house, pit, 

 or cold frame : — 



Green-Flesh Varieties 



Royal Jubilee. — Large, handsome fruit of good flavour, and deep flesh. 



Windsor Castle. — A large, oval-shaped fruit, finely netted, and of rich and 

 delicious flavour. 



High Cross Hybrid. — An excellent old green-fleshed variety. 



Eastnor Castle. — Still one of the best. Flesh dark green, of great depth, and 

 delicious flavour. Densely netted. 



