224 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



moderately moist when planted, I seldom find that 

 shading is necessary, unless it be when a continuance 

 of dull weather is succeeded by brilliant sunshine. 

 Then a thin shade is applied, but only tiU the plants 

 can do without it. When the hot-water pipes are in 

 front and close to the plants, it is always best to 

 screen each plant by a thin piece of board from the 

 drying influence of the pipes, until they are 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. 



WATERING, 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 all 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 wiU 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 ; 



