June] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



741 



The successional crops of melons in pits or frames, will 

 still require attention ; care must also be taken that they be 

 shaded from the sun, when they show any symptom of flagging 

 or drooping their leaves. This should be particularly attended 

 to, where the plants do not stand the sun well, but shrink or 

 flag their leaves considerably, or where they are situated too 

 near the glass, as the full noon-sun would be apt to scorch 

 their leaves, and in some degree shrink or exhaust the juices 

 of the plants, whereby the advancing fruit would be checked, 

 assume irregular shapes, and become stinted in its growth. 



This disposition to flag proceeds from a variety of causes ; 

 the principal of which is, when the mould in which they are 

 planted is too light for them, or where the dung in the beds 

 has sunk unequally, and thereby caused the mould to crack 

 in various directions, and by that means tear and destroy the 

 roots. It also often happens when there has been a long con- 

 tinuance of dull cloudy weather, succeeded by powerful sun- 

 shine. From whatever cause this appearance is derived, it is 

 of so much consequence to the future welfare of the plants, 

 that means must be used to counteract its effects. This is to 

 be remedied simply by shading them, by covering the sashes 

 with a thin mat, or sprinkling dry litter, hay, or straw, over 

 them, during the time the sun is most powerful. But this 

 shading must not be carried to an extreme, for the plants 

 should be gradually accustomed to sunshine, until at last they 

 are enabled to stand it without injury. 



The plants should now have a large share of air admitted 

 to them by propping up the sashes, or pulling them down, and 

 drawing them up alternately. 



Water must be frequently administered to them, but not in 

 large quantities at a time, preferring to give it frequently, say 

 every, or every other afternoon, as soon as the sun is suffi- 

 ciently off" the frames to prevent scorching. The extreme 

 parts of the beds will require the most water, not only because 

 the major parts of the roots are supposed to be extended 

 round the sides of the bed, but also because those parts are 

 more liable to be dried up by the heat of the linings while 

 they are applied, and by the action of air upon the sides of 

 the beds when the linings are discontinued. 



