4 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and base of the main shoots of the plants. These parts being 

 somewhat elevated keeps them drier, and this being so wards off 

 an attack of canker. This applies more especially to pit and frame 

 culture, when the growths have to be trained over the surface of 

 the beds. 



I adopt the plan of placing pieces of tough fibrous loam or 

 peat when planting and surfacing around the stem of the plants 

 so as to encircle each plant : this prevents any superfluous 

 moisture settling at the base or collar of the plants through 

 watering and syringing during the season, which so often pro- 

 duces canker, thereby causing the death of the plant and loss of 

 the crop. From 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet apart is a good distance 

 for house work, and for pits and frames one plant placed in the 

 centre of each light will be sufficient, as this distance allows the 

 plants to extend without the growth being crowded — a most im- 

 portant point to be considered. 



Kegulating the Growth. — Train the plants to a neat stake 

 until the trellis is reached; rub off all growths as they show 

 from the stem below the trellis ; train the growths right and left 

 and allow the leading stem to grow up without stopping to within 

 a foot of the top. If the side shoots are likely to be crowded, 

 pinch out some at first sight, as the Melon will not endure thinning 

 so severely as the Cucumber ; therefore the growths should be 

 stopped and thinned early enough for those remaining to just 

 cover the trellis with well-developed foliage and no more. 



The first laterals which are formed at the bottom of the trellis 

 should be stopped at the second or third leaf, and by the time 

 the sub -laterals show fruit other fruits will be showing on the 

 first laterals higher up. The plants, whether growing in houses 

 or pits, should be gone over twice or three times a week for the 

 purpose of stopping and removing any superfluous growth so as 

 to allow of the principal leaves being fully exposed to the light. 

 Stop at the first joint beyond the fruit and remove all weak 

 growths and laterals not showing fruit. 



Overcrowding is the greatest evil in Melon culkure because 

 the excessive foliage must be thinned, and its removal results in 

 exudation from the wounds, gangrene sets in, and the affected 

 pari perish through " wet-rot " (bacteria and bacillus growths). 

 To arrest these, antiseptics must be used : the safest is quicklime, 

 rubbing it well into the affected parts, and repeating as necessary. 



