296 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



paratively dry, with a fi-ee circulation of. air, or the fruit will 

 he deficient in flavour. Supply trees swelling off their crop 

 with manure-water at the root — a moist atmosphere and 

 frequent syriuging is necessary to keep the foliage healthy. 



Melons. — Attend to the impregnation of late crops, and 

 avoid overcrowding with shoots and foliage. Give those 

 sweUing off full crops occasional heavy waterings with manure- 

 water. If grown in houses on trellises, cover the surface of 

 the hed with a coating of rotten manure 1 inch or so in 

 thickness. Expose ripening fruit fuUy to the sun, and to a 

 circulation of warm air. 



Cucumbers. — Those that have been in bearing all summer 

 may now be partially cut in, aU fruit removed, be top-dresaed 

 with rotten manure, and kept at 75° at night, and they will 

 soon make young wood and begin bearing, and give a sup- 

 ply till late in autumn. See that those in fuU bearing do not 

 want for water at the roots, and syringe them freely on fine 

 afternoons. About the middle of the month is a good time 

 to sow for winter-bearing plants, or they may be produced 

 from cuttings at the end of the month. It is desirable to get 

 them well established while the days are yet long, and less 

 fire-heat required. 



Strawberries in Puts. — ^These, if shifted into their fruiting- 

 pots last month, wiU now be growing rapidly, and filling their 

 pots with roots. Give them a Uberal supply of water, and 

 occasional watering with dung-water as they get well estab- 

 lished in their pots. See that they are not standing too 

 closely together, preventing a free circulation of air and light 

 about them. They should be placed in an open airy situa- 

 tion. If any portion of the required stock stiU remain un- 

 shifted, not a day should be lost in getting them into their 

 fruiting-pots. The great point is to attain well-ripened crowns, 

 and pots as full of roots as they can hold. If they are disposed 

 to root through the pots, lift them occasionally to prevent 

 this. It is best, for this reason, to have them standing on 

 board or treUis-work, to prevent the roots leaving the pots. 



