220 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



let the heat of the bed decline ; and as they give signs 

 of colouring and ripening, which they often do suddenly, 

 increase the air, but do not decrease the warmth. It is 

 easily known when they are ripe by the aroma, and 

 more correctly by the rind cracking round the union 

 of the stem with the fruit. They are then ready to be 

 detached from the plant and placed in a fruit-room to 

 cool, after which they are ready for table. 



Such is the routine of melon-culture early in the 

 season by means of dung-frames or pits. The same 

 points of culture apply to their midsummer culture by 

 the same means, only the conditions necessary are secur- 

 ed with much less attention and anxiety. More moist- 

 ure in proportion to sun-heat and light are necessary, and 

 in the heat of summer one barrow-load of well-rotted 

 manure may be added to every five of loam. The loam 

 itself may be somewhat heavier than for spring growth, 

 and a depth equal to that recommended for the ridges — 

 namely, 1 foot — put firmly all over the surface of the bed. 



CULTURE IN MELON-HOUSES TRAINED ON WIKES NEAR THE 

 GLASS — FORM OF HOUSE, DEPTH OF SOIL, ETC. 



In this case the first consideration is the shape and 

 size of houses, as well as their aspect. And as in the 

 case of the early forcing of all fruits either in winter, 

 early spring, or autumn, lean-to houses with a due 

 south aspect are decidedly the best for melons. For 

 summer culture, span-roofed houses running north and 

 south may be considered the best. I have, however, 

 no difficulty with summer and early autumn crops in 

 the north aspect of houses running east and west. 

 Indeed, the difference only consists in the desirable one. 



