202 



MELON, 



also assist the fruit to ripen, by reflecting the rays of the sun. 

 — Aber, Nicol advises placing the fruit on bits of slate or 

 glass some time before it begins to ripen ; but by no means 

 jslate or moss the whole surface of the bed. 



Forcing melons, — The " Honfleur method" of forwarding 

 the production of melons, as stated by Mr. Armstrong, has 

 been given, pp. 199, 200, The same writer continues, If 

 we w^ant melons at a period earlier than this method will 

 give them, we must employ a higher degree and a longer 

 continuance of artificial heat ; in a word, we must resort 

 to hot-beds^ and in these the point most important and diffi- 

 cult of attainment at the same time is, to secure a certain 

 degree of heat, and no more, throughout the w^hole process. 

 To lessen the difficulty in this case, gardeners, who under- 

 stand their trade, make choice of those varieties which 

 have the thinnest skins and the least bulk, as experience 

 proves that, other things being equal, they require less 

 heat than those of thicker rinds and greater size, and are 

 of course less subject to some of the accidents to which 

 this species of culture is exposed. In choosing the seeds, 

 those of the last year are only to be used, because they 

 are of quicker vegetation than old ones, and, accord- 

 ingly, best fulfil the intention of the hot-bed, which is, to 

 give early fruit. Another practice conducive to the safety 

 of the plants, is, to sow the seeds in small pots, and then 

 to plunge them into a hot-bed. If the heat be deficient, 

 they are, in this case, made no worse than they would have 

 been, if sown directly in the bed ; and if it be excessive, it 

 is only necessary to raise the pots, without in the smallest 

 degree disturbing the plant. These things being premised, 

 it but remains to show what ought to be the subsequent man- 

 agement after the seed has been sown, and the pots placed 

 under the frames. One of the most important points now 

 to be observed, is sufficiently to ventilate the bed, as well 

 before as after the plants show themselves. This should be 

 done at mid-day and in sunshine, and as often as a necessity 

 for it shall be indicated by an accumulation of steam under 

 the glasses. At night, these (the glasses) should be 

 carefully covered with matting. These two preliminaries 

 (ventilation in the day, and covering at night) being care- 

 fully observed, your plants will soon show themselves in a 

 vigorous and healthy state, and may be kept in that condi- 

 tion by a continuation of the same means, and by moderate- 

 ly moistening the earth when it shall have become too dry. 

 The water employed should be of the same temperature 



