94 



THE GARDENER. 



[FEB. 



there will be a sufficient number of runners for each 

 light. As the plants become vigorous they will require 

 fresh mould, which is to be drawn from the sides of 

 the frame to the mounds in the centre for the nourish- 

 ment of the roots ; and as their fibres will continually 

 stretch out in search of food, you are to increase the 

 circumference of those mounds continually, by remov- 

 ing the earth to them from the sides until the whole 

 surface of the bed is on a level with the central parts. 

 The blossoms must be impregnated, as will be no- 

 ticed in the treatment of the melon. 



Towards the end of the month make the first melon 

 bed, as for cucumbers, except that the mould should 

 be more tenacious, and the lights larger. One plant 

 only should be put under each light, if the frame be 

 of moderate size ; but if two be planted, let them be 

 fifteen inches apart lengthways with regard to the 

 frame. If the Persian and Cabul kinds be chosen, 

 the shoots will not require pinching like other varie- 

 ties; the leading one is to be trained under the centre 

 of the light, and the lateral ones on each side at right 

 angles.* Generally, melons raised from seed should 

 be stopped when they put ofi* the rough leaves, and 

 only one shoot should be allowed to run from the axil 

 of each of the two rough leaves left on the plant ; 

 those which proceed from the axils of the cotjdedon 

 leaves being suppressed at their first appearance ; and 

 again when these two main runners have attained about 

 two feet in length, in order to produce fruitful laterals,! 

 for otherwise they become too much drawn and long 

 jointed. Those that are from cuttings have far less 

 vine, and do not require topping until they show fruit. 



* Gardeners' Chronicle. Trellis work is often made use cf 

 when the melon pits are of great width, from which the vines or 

 runners are trained from the front to the back, eighteen inches 

 or two feet below the glass. 



f Loudon. 



