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ON THE CULTIVATION OF VARIOUS KINDS OF MELONS. 
consonant with the amount or intensity of solar influence obtainable in this our beclouded 
clime. 
Over the agency of heat we have now a tolerably good control, hut with flight (notwith- 
standing the great artificial improvements that of late years have occurred to render our 
glass-houses much more transparent than formerly) we are circumstanced widely different ; [ 
and the science of a right application of the former in the case of the Persian Melon, does 
not consist in the precise imitation of the degree under which that plant luxuriates in its 
native habitat, but rather in balancing it, so to speak, with the quantity of light locally 
obtainable. 
Until the fruit have “ set ” and begun to swell off, the only application of moisture 
(always in a warm state — this circumstance is of the greatest importance) which will be 
requisite is to take advantage of all bright weather, and close the structures early, with a 
highly humid condition of the interior atmosphere ; but the plants themselves should on 
no occasion be either "watered or syringed overhead, inasmuch as half the ills that Melons 
are heir to are but the consequence of this practice. Ventilate partially at night on all 
occasions when the external atmosphere will admit, and give air in the day-time with the 
greatest freedom (but never shade) on the brightest days. Above all, it is important that 
aeration be attended to early in the day, for nothing is more injurious to Persian Melons 
than permitting the sun to shine upon them under glass for any length of time previous to 
a free circulation of air being given, when the more sunshine they receive the better. 
The foregoing material points in their culture being carefully attended to, a rapid and yet 
robust habit of growth will be the result. The vines will not present a languid appearance, 
but will be strong and vigorous, upholding fine healthy foliage, which (if the diurnal 
atmosphere be kept tolerably dry, and all the sunlight possible admitted), notwithstanding 
the rather low and humid condition of the nocturnal temperature, will never fluctuate or 
become flaccid, but rather attain a healthy rigidity of structure beneath the fiercest rays of 
our brightest summer’s sun. 
A good supply of clarified liquid manure must now be kept in constant readiness : it 
may be manufactured either from the manure of sheep, deer, or cows — some give preference 
to guano — but whatever is selected, it should on all occasions be employed in a very clear, 
tepid state, well diluted with warm water, and occasionally a trowel or two full of soot may 
be intermingled with it, if only to exterminate the worms. 
“ Weak and frequent,” should be the maxim for its application ; every alternate day in 
bright weather during the fruit-swelling period will not be found too often to apply the 
liquid manure, which should be done by means of a water-pot without a rose. 
Shortly before closing the structure in the afternoon is the best time for watering, which 
must be performed in pits or frames, by introducing the spout of the pot carefully amongst 
the vines and foliage, so as to completely saturate the entire mass of compost without in 
the slightest degree wetting them. 
A circle of dry soil should be drawn around the main stem or collar of each plant, and 
water never permitted to approach within five or six inches of it, as it is this part of the 
plant which is the most likely and fatally to be affected by the “ canker ” disease, which is 
superinduced sooner by stagnant moisture coming in contact with the stems than by any 
other cause with which we are familiar. As a general rule, it is better to apply the water 
towards the outsides of the Melon beds, still the whole must be thoroughly saturated and 
rendered on all favourable occasions more like a “ hot ditch ’’than Melon beds are generally 
met with ; and if the soil is of the coarse and open texture before alluded to, porosity will 
be preserved, and the plenitude, of water supplied will consequently never cause stagnation ; 
in the mean time, the plants will carry heavy crops of splendid fruit, which will rapidly 
complete their swelling pretty evenly together; and the moment that it is perceived this is 
accomplished, further waterings must be immediately discontinued, and the soil allowed to 
become perfectly dry, which it will do by the time the fruit ripen off. Attention to the 
timely withholding liquid manure at this important juncture will alone secure a good flavour 
to the fruit, which, if otherwise neglected, will prove watery instead of sugary. 
For second and third crops, Persian Melons must be subjected to the routine of pruning 
