74-2 THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [JvfW, 



It is not proper to give much water near the main-stem, 

 either of melons or cucumbers ; and as the fruit of the former 

 attains its full size, water should be gradually withheld, giving 

 only a sufficiency to keep the plants alive. If the beds have 

 been moulded up to a proper depth, slight waterings will at all 

 times be sufficient for melons, but not by any means to that 

 extent, which is given to cucumbers. While the plants are 

 setting their fruit, water should be sparingly given ; and when 

 any tendency to damp or mouldiness appears, it should also 

 be withheld, and all dead or decayed leaves or shoots re- 

 moved. Too much humidity would prevent the setting of the 

 fruit, and make them turn yellow and damp off; but when a 

 sufficient number are set, and beginning to swell, water may 

 be more freely given, never, however, too abundantly, as too 

 much moisture proves hurtful to the roots and stems of these 

 plants, and causes them to rot and decay. Continue still to 

 cover with mats every night till towards the end of the month, 

 when the covering may be dispensed with. 



If melons were planted out last month under hand or bell- 

 glasses, they should now have full liberty to extend their 

 shoots from under them, as already directed for cucumbers ; for 

 this purpose, if the glasses be raised only two or three inches, 

 it will afford sufficient room for the branches or shoots to 

 escape. As yet, little water will be required by these plants ; 

 too much of it would tend to rot or chill the roots, and thereby 

 prevent the setting and even first swelling of the fruit. When 

 the weather is naturally wet, water from the pots may be dis- 

 pensed with, and care taken that the plants be protected from 

 too much of it, either by means of canvas, supported upon 

 hoop arches placed across the beds, or by covering with Dutch 

 reed-mats, which will carry the water off sufficiently. The 

 glasses should be kept constantly over them, and air admitted 

 by propping up the glasses by wedge-shaped pieces of wood, 

 or other similar contrivances. 



Frames covered with lights fitted with oiled-paper instead 

 of glass, are extremely useful in the cultivation of melons at 

 this season, when more of that fruit is required than can be 

 conveniently grown under glass ; and by such means, the cul- 

 tivators for the markets are enabled to grow a great quantity 



