FORCING DEPARTMENT. 405 



CULTURE OF THE MELON. 



The Melon and Cucumber plants, bearing a 

 strong analogy to each other in their growth, re- 

 quire but little variation in their general treatment. 

 The former being of a less robust nature, it is with 

 more difficulty that a stock of healthy plants can be 

 procured in the gloomy Winter months ; frequent 

 sowings are consequently made at various periods 

 in January and February, in order to secure a stock 

 of plants, which should be raised in a seed bed 

 previously prepared for the Cucumber. When 

 the plants have attained the height of two to three 

 inches, with their seed leaves almost fully developed, 

 they should be pricked out into pots about four 

 inches diameter, placing three in each, as some 

 of them will be liable to damp off; but when 

 the season is more advanced, two plants in a pot 

 will be sufficient. When the first or second rough 

 leaf bursts forth, the plants should be stopped at the 

 first or second joint, which will be the means of 

 strengthening them, and induce lateral branches to 

 push out from the centre of the plant. While they 

 are nursing in the seed bed, the department in 

 which they are intended to produce their fruit 

 must be got in readiness, and prepared according to 

 the directions specified for the Cucumber beds ; and 

 when the burning heat has subsided, the mould may 

 be spread over the surface of the bed, and frequently 



