224 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



fairly established. Another precaution in planting is to 

 keep the plant raised above the general level of the bed, 

 by placing a ring of smooth round stones, flints, or 

 pieces of charcoal, about 6 inches in circumference, 

 round the plant. This I recommend as a provision 

 against the not unfrequent cankering or damping of 

 the stems just at the surface of the soil, which when 

 thus elevated, and not watered within the protecting 

 circle, is not so likely to be troublesome. 



WATEEING, ETC. 



It is a most difficult thing in all cases to give definite 

 rules, as far as frequency or the reverse is concerned, for 

 watering. In this case it must depend, as in nearly aU 

 others, on the state of the weather, and to some extent 

 on the lightness or heaviness of the soil. I make it a 

 rule to water melon-beds as seldom, but as thoroughly 

 when required, as possible. Suffice it to say that melon- 

 plants should never flag from over-dryness of the soil, 

 nor the bed be allowed to crack, otherwise the plants 

 and crop are sure to suffer : the foliage will get yellow 

 and sickly, and become a prey to red-spider. With 

 bottom-heat derived from hot-water pipes, the tendency 

 of the soil to become dry is greater than on the dung- 

 bed ; consequently more water is required, and the neces- 

 sity for thorough soakings when it is supplied is more 

 urgent. Except, perhaps, in the height of summer, two 

 or three good waterings, with the ordinary sprinklings 

 before the fruit are set, and as many after that stage, 

 are sufficient to bring the crop to maturity. As soon as 

 the crop is set, I always mulch the surface of the bed 

 with rather more than 1 inch of short manure, which 



