212 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



plants, remove the others, and mould up the stems 

 with warm rather dry loam, tilling up the pot with 

 two earthings after the plants have grown above the 

 rims of the pots. Very moist soil is apt to cause 

 damping, especially in dull weather, when more vapour 

 of necessity collects in the frame. It is very necessary 

 to leave a little chink of air on the frame all night, 

 especially when mild and damp ; but great care is 

 required to prevent gusts of cold air from reaching the 

 plants, and a screen of canvas should be suspended 

 over the opening in cold windy weather. When the 

 heat is more than 75° at uncovering time in the morn- 

 ing, increase the air, but this must not be to such an 

 extent as will prevent an increase of heat with sun to 

 80° or 85° by day, and at covering-up time the amount 

 of covering must be regulated by the temperature of 

 the frame, and the weather. ISTothing is so injurious 

 to young melon-plants as an over-close moist atmo- 

 sphere at night, with too much heat. It draws them 

 up pale and weakly, and renders them less likely to bear 

 exposure to sun by day, which is so desirable, except 

 after a time of sunless weather, when a little shade is 

 often needed on the first sunny day. 



Do not give any water so long as the soil remains 

 moist, and until it becomes manifest that they are really 

 in need of it ; and, in watering, do not water the leaves. 

 Generally speaking, the soil remains sufficiently moist 

 till they show their rough leaves, and it is much bet- 

 ter that such should be the case — for, with short sunless 

 days, water would only serve to weaken them, if it did 

 not cause them to damp off altogether ; besides, in a 

 drier soil they make a more numerous brood of active 

 rootlets. 



