By John Williams, Esq. 



163 



culture in this respect should be the same as that recommended 

 in my paper on the growth of Melons in the open air (see 

 Hort. Trans, vol. 5. p. 349.). The glass, when the bed is settled 

 down, should be from 16 to 18 inches above the slates, so as to 

 give room for the leaves to expand and receive motion from the 

 wind, and the exhaling moisture to be carried away. As the 

 bottom heat declines, I keep a supply of grass mowings, fallen 

 leaves, and other garden refuse, as a lining on the north side. 

 Green glass is much to be preferred to crown glass, the leaves are 

 less liable to be burnt, in spots, by the sudden exposure to light in 

 showery weather. The plants require no water at root after they 

 have first got rooted in the bed, nor any syringing with water on 

 the surface of the leaves; I found the latter did injury. One 

 single dusting of flowers of sulphur thrown amongst the leaves in 

 a calm morning or evening by means of the newly invented porta- 

 ble fan engine, I found last summer, effectually kept off the red 

 spider, and thrips. Every gardener who saw the plants growing, 

 expressed surprise at their healthy appearance, and the abundance 

 of fruit. 



End section of open Melon frame. 



a a bottom of pit. 



b b small cast iron props to support the wood frame c c. There 

 are four short pipes in front and the same number at the back. 



d The upper short light which slides over the lower one e. for 

 the convenience of examining the fruits and leaves. 



