THE MELON. 225 



prevents evaporation, the bed from cracking, and 

 nourishes the crop, and is in all respects preferable to 

 more frequent watering. After the fruit are all set, 

 manure-water made of sheep or cow manure is bene- 

 ficial, 



TEMPERATURE AND STRINGING. 



The bottom-heat should range from 80° to 85°, 

 the temperature of the air in early spring at 70° at 

 night, and be raised to 75° when the weather becomes 

 more genial, and less fire-heat is required to keep the tem- 

 perature up. With the sun-heat by day, a rise of 10° to 

 15° may be allowed. The moisture of the air must be 

 regulated according as the weather is bright or dull;"when 

 bright, with frosty nights, the moisture must be greater 

 than when dull, and sufiicient to prevent the atmos- 

 phere from feeling dry on entering the house. Except 

 when they are in bloom and setting, gentle syringings 

 are more frequently required in melon-houses than in 

 frames ; and every afternoon, when the day is bright, 

 and a maximum of air has been admitted, a gentle 

 syringing is very refreshing to the plants. In the 

 morning the walls and paths should be damped, but 

 Aot the plants themselves, as under bright sun they are 

 apt to suffer when moisture is hanging about the foliage. 



VENTILATION. 



Ventilation, in the earlier stages of their growth par- 

 ticularly, must be very carefully managed. Sudden 

 draughts of cold air are to be avoided, and the tempera- 

 ture should never be allowed to reach its maximum 



P 



