MELONS. 119 
the turves, and when these were warmed to the proper temperature the 
plants were set out— sometimes one plant and sometim.es two in a light. 
The bed was not earthed all o\er at once, but by degrees, as the planis 
grew, to the depth of a foot or more. As soon as the plants had made 
four leaves beyond the cotyledons the tops were pinched out to make 
Fig. 31. — Melon ' Hero of Lockynge.' 
them^branch out and cover the bed. The leading shoots were allowed 
to"grow to near the top and bottom of the frame before being stopped, 
and the lateral shoots from them were stopped a few leaves beyond the 
fruit, trained, and thinned out as occasion required. Care was taken 
that the female flowers were fertilised when perfectly dry, and as early in 
