A YEAR'S CYCLE IN THE GARDEN 193 



have a good place in which to ripen them, such as 

 a hotbed or an empty greenhouse, pull the melons 

 from the stem when they are just starting to crack 

 where the stem joins the melon. Placing them in 

 a dry heat of about 120 to 130 degrees, for a few 

 hours puts flavour into them and ripens them to 

 the outer skin. In looking over your melons, 

 always pick off any leaves that are diseased and, 

 when the melons are about the size of baseballs, 

 lift them and place them on boards so as to have 

 them ripen evenly. Use a shingle cut in two. 

 One good application of nitrate of soda when the 

 fruit is swelling will help the plants considerably. 



Watermelons require very little attention, as 

 they are robust growers and very free from attacks 

 of insects and diseases. If the vines show any 

 signs of flagging give an application of manure 

 water and follow with nitrate of soda, but do not 

 do this until the fruit is set. If you do, it will 

 start growth anew and you will lose a couple of 

 weeks. 



Keep the tomato vines trimmed. Cut off the 

 laterals, except two on each stem if it is necessary 

 to cover a trellis; leave only one stem if you have 

 planted them close together. Never let the plants 

 get dry nor excessively wet at the roots, for either 

 extreme will cause the tomatoes to decay in the 

 centre and drop. 



Keep the potatoes growing by good cultivation, 

 and spray with Bordeaux. Use Paris green in case 

 there are any bugs on the plants. Give the final 

 hilling when they are in flower. I prefer flat 



