MELONS. 



5 



But the worst effect of removing a large quantity of growth is 

 giving a check to the fruit, not unfrequently causing it to cease 

 swelling, and it becomes hard in the flesh ; fungoid germs 

 fasten upon the exudation, and the fruit decays when it should 

 ripen. These disasters are generally preventible by attending 

 to the thinning and stopping of the growths in time. 



Setting the Fruit. — The Melon is monoecious, that is, it 

 bears male and female flowers on the same plant ; the former are 

 essential for the fertilisation of the latter, therefore a sufficient 

 portion of them should be retained for that purpose. When the 

 weather is fine and plenty of air can be given, the female 

 blossoms usually become fertilised without artificial means being 

 resorted to, but the process of setting the fruit, that is, fertilising 

 the blossoms, is generally thought necessary. This operation 

 should be performed when both male and female flowers are 

 fully expanded, and consists in taking some of the pollen when 

 it can be readily dusted from the anthers, and applying it by 

 means of a camel-hair pencil to the stigma, or a male blossom 

 may be stripped of its corolla and inverted over the female one ; 

 this should be done if possible when the weather is fine and 

 bright — between the hours of eleven and two o'clock will be 

 found the best time for this operation. Never commence ferti- 

 lising the blooms until there is a sufficient number ready at one 

 time, or within an interval of three days, to furnish the crop. If 

 one or two fruits are allowed to swell off first, the later set fruit 

 will not swell, but die away. Indeed, if only one fruit is set in 

 advance of the rest, it will monopolise all the strength of the 

 plant, and prevent any more fruit appearing. When a sufficient 

 number of fruits are set, select the largest and best shaped, 

 taking off all small and misshapen ones. If large fruits are 

 wanted, leave from four to six fruits to each plant, or if smaller 

 fruits are desired, allow eight or ten to remain. 



Watering. — Melons do not require much water until the 

 fruit begins to swell, and then they must have liberal supplies. 

 When the young fruits have attained to the size of pigeon's 

 eggs, give the beds a good watering with liquid manure ; repeat 

 this once or twice a week according to the weather — in very hot 

 and sunny weather the plants naturally require more moisture 

 at their roots— also give the beds a good sprinkling of bone- 

 meal ; over this place a layer of fresh loam pressed down firmly. 



