388 THE FRUIT GARDEN 



tomatoes. While small houses had a good arrangement for bottom heat, the 

 larger spans had no such provision. Heavy crops were produced by either 

 system ; for very early gathering the small house is better. Melons are still largely 

 grown, and in many instances very profitably, though now the profits are less 

 than formerly. The varieties grown are several, and many new ones are tried, 

 but most are the same as those first grown by Mr. Davis, without doubt a 

 selected form of the old Golden Perfection. 



In the years following the introduction of melon culture for market, a good 

 profit could be relied upon. Prices were high and very steady, but as more 

 growers began the prices commenced to fall, and it is now not unusual to hear 

 of a melon crop being a failure so far as profits are concerned. 



When melons were first started many growers used to allow one plant to 

 cover a good roof space by taking several shoots from it. This is still 

 favoured by some, but the majority now prefer single or double-stemmed plants 

 with the idea of getting a small number of fruits on each, and gathering 

 a crop rapidly so as to allow time for a second planting. In favour of the 

 extension system it is argued that the greater energy of the plant promises 

 better " setting," and that if the plants remain healthy their fruiting season is 

 longer ; but the risk is that the stem may canker at the soil level, whereas with 

 the single or double leader system the risk is much less, as the life of the plant 

 is only half as long. Anything which tends to reduce the risk in a melon crop 

 is looked upon with favour by the Channel Islanders, as the margin of profit 

 is very diiFerent now to the days when a good melon would make five to eight 

 shillings at the end of June, as was the case eighteen or twenty years ago. 

 Those were, of course, the early days of melon culture in the Channel Islands. 



PEACHES AND NECTARINES 



Peaches and nectarines were soon taken in hand by the grower when the 

 fruit-growing industry was in its early stages. It was at first thought the peach 

 might be made to yield fruit while the vines were growing. Naturally, it 

 was planted against the back walls, for in those days the span-roof was not in 

 such favour as it is to-day. Peaches and nectarines were almost entirely grown 

 on the single cordon system — hard pinched in summer, and strictly kept as 

 cordons. But such culture was not a great success, consequently many growers 

 allowed more growth, and this very naturally led them on to the extension 

 system. To-day, in most instances, fan-trained trees are the most approved, 

 and rightly so, for without doubt their yield is greater and more reliable, and 

 the life of the trees longer. 



Although peach and nectarine culture was commenced so early in the 

 Channel Islands it has, to a very large degree, diminished. This diminution 

 largely arose from the difficulty the grower experienced in placing his fruit on 

 the British markets in a sound condition. All methods of packing were tried, 

 but the uncertainty of safe and sound arrival still existed, and the culture con- 

 siderably decreased. We do not mean that none were grown, but it got less 

 popular, and would very probably have disappeared had it not been for the 



