250 VINES 
remove the very weak, thin, useless shoots. Trel- 
lises must be built as for cucumbers, or, better 
still, if you have head room, they can be run 
vertically through or across the house. However, 
the principle is the same, and the wires should be 
stretched so as to give the same mesh—of about 
one foot. 
When the flowering stage is reached, it will be 
necessary to pollinate by hand, exactly as already 
described; viz., by inserting a staminate flower 
into the pistillate blooms. Pollenize at least twelve 
blossoms on each plant and all at the same time. 
Then remove any fruit that is further advanced 
than the main crop, as it would mature early at 
the expense of the others. If you obtain a good, 
even set, the fruits will all start to swell at one 
time. When they are about the size of walnuts, 
thin out to eight melons to a plant; when they 
are about two inches in diameter, give the final 
thinning, leaving either four or six melons. The 
former number will result in better and larger 
fruit, but some prefer to harvest the larger number. 
Always endeavour to properly balance the crop; 
don’t let one stem bear it all, any more than you 
would attempt to raise it all on one plant. 
Spray the melons lightly on bright days only 
and keep the atmosphere moist until the fruit 
