83 



JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Lindeni, D. Linita, D. Goldiana, and many other beautiful 

 varieties. Nidularium fulgens and other ornamental Bromeliads 

 may be freely used, and will retain their beauty for a long time. 

 Pandanus Veitchii, Phormium tenax, Pourrettia mexicana and 

 P. argentea, Tillandsias, Aspidistra lurida, and its variegated 

 form, are most useful and never-failing plants. Several of the 

 Fittonias are also pretty. Hydrangea hortensis variegata is a 

 beautiful plant when grown in small pots, being prettily varie- 

 gated, and is very effective in any decoration. The never-dying 

 Ophiopogon, any number of Ferns, and various other plants 

 too numerous to mention, are available for all purposes. 



I have seen most lovely window-boxes in London filled with 

 the following plants : Kentias of sorts, Aspidistras, Draccena Goldi- 

 ana, and other bright foliage varieties ; Crotons in variety, Bam- 

 boos, Nidularium fulgens, Tillandsias, Fittonias, Panicums, Pan- 

 danus Veitchii, Tradescantias, Phoenix, Seaforthias, Hydrangeas, 

 Ophiopogons, Ferns in variety, Nertera depressa, &c. These 

 plants kept fresh and beautiful from June to the end of October, 

 showing the advantage of using foliage plants in preference to 

 flowering plants for window-box decoration. If flowers had 

 been used the boxes would have certainly required to be refilled 

 at least four times during the period, and would not at any time 

 have looked so graceful or so pretty. 



CULTIVATION OF THE MELON. 



By Mr. C. Ross, F.R.H.S. 



[Read March 22. 1892.] 



The Melon [Cucumis Melo) is a native of the south of Asia, 

 where it still grows spontaneously. It was taken to America 

 by Columbus, and was introduced into Great Britain about 1570, 

 and it is now pretty generally grown in nearly all the tropical 

 and temperate regions of the earth. Its cultivation, which has 

 long been one of the most important duties of a gardener in 

 this country, requires daily attention to small details in order to 

 get the fruit to such a state of perfection as will give satisfaction 



