3.90 
THE amateur’s KITCHEN' GARDEN. 
little air. In this way you must nurse and coax the plant 
into free and healthy growth, and although it may appear not 
to grow at all for three weeks or so, if it only continues to 
look well you must be satisfied, for its roots will be running 
freely and getting firm hold of the station, preparatory to the 
work required of them. 
It will be necessary now to provide for every plant a fifteen 
or twenty-inch cloche or bell-glass, and three stout pegs made 
of half-inch deal, two inches wide, regularly notched as 
shown in the figure, the lower part being shaved off for more 
convenient insertion in the ground. Drive in the stakes so 
that the bell-glass can be lodged upon the notches exactly 
over the centre of the plant, and can 
be raised or lowered upon the notches 
as change of» weather may render 
necessary. 
In regard to pinching and pruning 
there is very little to be done. As 
soon as the plant has made five leaves 
pinch out the centre, leaving four 
leaves. These will give rise to four- 
leading shoots, which are not to be 
pinched or pruned at all, but must be 
trained out regularly with the aid of 
pegs or bent willow twigs, and be 
allowed to branch and subdivide in 
their own way. For the removal of 
the original bell-glass, the advancing 
size of the plant will be the signal. 
Take it away and put on the large 
cloche, resting it on the lowest pegs so 
as to afford the plant a very little air. As the season ad- 
vances the cloche must be raised higher, but it must never 
be removed. It is intended to protect the centre of the plant 
to prevent canker at the collar, and save it from injury when 
heavy rains occur. Regular supplies of water must be given, 
of course, and the plants must be kept in the best health 
possible. When they come into flower, it will be advisable to 
“'set” the fruiting flowers, but so many flies visit out-door 
melons that you will probably obtain as good a crop if you 
neglect this task; though when melons are grown in frames 
.and houses, it is sometimes necessary to set the fruiting flowers. 
GROUND 
LEVEL. 
