Apr,] TUE FORCING GARDEN, 7 15 



plied by a watering-pot witliout a rose, and carefully placed 

 between the leaves, so that the mould and roots may be sup- 

 plied without injury to the leaves. The same intelligent hor- 

 ticulturist also recommends growing melons in large pots, 

 either placed in pits, frames, or forcing-houses, and training 

 the vines or shoots to trellises. We, however, can perceive 

 little benefit to be derived from growing them in pots, either 

 in pits or frames, seeing that they succeed so much better 

 when they are planted out in them; but where convenience 

 admits of it, they may be successfully cultivated in large pots, 

 similar to cucumbers, in forcing-houses of sufficient tempera- 

 ture. The idea of training them to trellises is good, and may 

 be practised in either pits or frames with advantage, or, whicli 

 will answer the same end, and be more readily applied, they may 

 be trained to laths, placed at a little distance f^om the surface 

 of the mould, and additional laths applied as the plants extend 

 themselves ; or trellises may be formed in convenient pieces, to 

 be used in a similar manner. Some gardeners practice cover- 

 ing the surface of the beds with slates, tiles, sand, gravel, &c., 

 and some cover it with moss : neither of these modes is ad- 

 visable, as the reflection of the rays of heat from such bodies 

 will render the plants in danger of being first infested by the red 

 spider, and finally destroyed either by them or the too power- 

 ful effects of the rays of the sun. " By mossing the surface," 

 Nicol justly observes, " the indolent may find a pretext, as it 

 no doubt in some measure lessens the labour of watering; but 

 it is wrong to pursue tliat method, in so far as it harbours and 

 encourages the breeding of various insects ; and as the fruit 

 approaches to maturity, taints it with an unpleasant effluvium.'^ 

 Air and water must be supplied as the weather and state of 

 the plants may determine, and the operation of impregnation 

 should not by any means be neglected. In the application of 

 water, it should not be done in a careless manner as a inattcr 

 of course, but it should be given in a less or greater quantity 

 as may be required, preferring to give a little and often, ra- 

 ther than to give a large supply at once. Accordingly as the 

 blossoms are impregnated, and the rudiments of the young 

 fruit appear, lay small pieces of tile or slate under each, which 

 will prevent their liability to damp off. 



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