202 . MELON. 



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

 — Ab€7\ Nicol advises placing the frnit on bits of slate or 

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

 slate or moss the whole svaface of the bed. 



Forcmg inelons.— The " Honfieur 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, w^e must employ a higher degree and a longer 

 continuance of artificial heat ; in a w ord, w e must resort 

 to hot-bedsj 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 whole process. 

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

 stand their trade, make choice of those varieties w^hicb f 

 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 s^ize, and are f 

 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 pets, and then 

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

 they are, in this case, made no wwse 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 w-ell 

 before as after the plants show them.selves. 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 v.'ith matting. These two prelimiinaries 

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

 fully observed, your plants will soon show themselves in a 

 vigorous and healthy state, and m.ay be kept in that condi- 

 tion by a continuation of the same m.eans, and by moderate- 

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

 The water employed should be of the same temperature 



