50 
THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE OF AMERICA 
within bounds. However, a judicious thinning" of the 
branches, no matter how severe could be generally done 
without a suggestion of 'shearing,' and without taxing 
the natural beauty and freedom of growth to the extent 
which even nowadays is all too common. Relegate the 
rubbisli of this department to the burning heap, and 
lightly work into the border dead leaves, a sprinkling 
of decayed manure, bone meal, or ether fertilizer of a 
lasting nature. 
Climbers ill Conjunction Willi Tree:. — The covering of 
degenerate trees and shrubs in the pleasure grotmds with 
suitable climbing plants is a very commendable practice. 
Trees or shrubs endowed, maybe, with family traditions 
cannot well be disposed of, and it therefore behooves the 
gardener to try to make these decrepit specimens some- 
thing which at present they are not — objects of beauty. 
Sometimes in the home grounds we see trees of a failing 
character lapped back so repeatedly that in time there 
remains little top growth save a few leading branches, 
conspicuous only by reason of their vinsightly butt-ends. 
These may be clad in a season or so with any of the 
numerous climbers of rapid growth — Aristolochia. Ac- 
tinidia, Akebia, Celastrus, Ampelopsis, or even that most 
rampant grower the Kudzu vine. Suitable, too, for this 
purpose, are many of the most beautiful of our floral 
climbers — Clematis, Lonicera, Rignonia, Wistaria and 
Polygonum baldschuanicum, a most beautiful climber and 
never more at home than when scrambling upward and 
displaying its charming racemes of white flowers from a 
point of vantage gained at the expense of some worn 
out tree or shrub. 
Rambler roses also lend themselves admirably to this 
purpose, in fact, there are few better or more effective 
ways of employing this type of rose. 
fhe most common method of planting climbers thus 
appropriated is to dig a hole at the foot of the tree and 
lerhaps replacing the old soil with new com])ost. ■ While 
this sometimes happens to be the only satisfactory way, 
where ])racticable. it would be wise to plant them on the 
outside where the branches are nearest the ground. They 
could be trained over the intervening space with the aid 
of a stout stake fixed in the ground and securely attached 
to the branch to prevent swaying. When the plant is 
well established there will be little need of the stake. 
Outdoor Melon Culture 
By Henry Knight, New York. 
TO cultivate successfully large crops of melons of high 
c[uaUty and flavor, dig holes six feet apart, twenty- 
four inches deep and thirty inches in diameter ; 
place the soil to one side of the hole, add one sixth of good 
rotten manure, one five inch pot of air slacked lime and 
some wood ashes : thoroughly mix and replace in holes ; 
pre[;are one month before sowing, or if the grower has on 
hand a quantity of maiden loam and manure prepared for 
potting or bench work, to which add the lime and wood 
ashes, it could, with advantage, be used, wholly or in 
])art, to fill up the holes, which should be raised not more 
than two inches above ground level, 60 that any surplus 
moisture will not remain around the base of the plants. 
When sowing use one tablespoonful of Clay's, or similar 
fertilizer, mixed in the soil to the depth of three inches, 
which will supply immediate food for the young ])lants. 
The middle of May is generally the right time to sow, 
but the seed should not be sown before the groimd is 
warm if any early crop is desirable. Procure the desired 
number of early plants by sowing some approved early 
variety. Sow the last week in March in four inches, 
which must have the assistance of bottom heat until the 
seed has germinated, after which give the plants plenty 
of light to ensure a stocky growth before planting. When 
planting these early plants select warm dull weather ; or, 
if small hand lights are available use them to protect the 
jilants until they are well established. If the grower is 
unable to use bottom heat, and has a number of hand 
lights, use them to sectu-e an early crop by sow-ing in 
April, when the weather commences to warm up ; or, 
failing the foregoing accommodations, sow in the hills 
and cover the soil with pieces of glass, which will help 
to generate heat and protect the soil from excessive mois- 
ttire. 
When the plants appear tilt the glass on one side by 
placing something solid under one edge, which will pre- 
vent the plants scalding when there are sudden spells of 
sunshine. In every case sow at least six seeds either in 
pots or hills. When the plants have attained the desired 
strength, thin out the plants, leaving three of the strong- 
est in each hill or pot ; give water when necessary ; when 
the days are hot syringe the plants at 4 p. m. To encour- 
age a healthy growth, cultivate the soil until the vines 
cover the ground, but avoid disturbing the plant's twines, 
the omission of this precaution often proves disadvan- 
tageous. Spray every two weeks with weak bordeaux 
mixture : two ounces copper sulphate, 3 ounces slacked 
lime to three gallons of water. The mixture acts as a 
repellant to mildew, stiped beetle and fungi, or the fol- 
lowing is equally efficacious and is also easy to handle : 
use one himdred parts air slacked lime ( b_v weight) to 
one part Paris green : mix these together thoroughly and 
allow it to stand at least ten days before using; when us- 
ing this place a quantity of it in an open canvas bag and 
shake it over the plants when the leaves are moist. The 
])lant should not be allowed to suffer for the want of 
water ; give an occasional dressing of fertilizer after the 
fruit has attained the size of an egg ; don't give stimu- 
lants when the plants are in a dry condition ; when the 
fruit is ripening give jtist sufficient water to keep the 
plants in a growing condition ; the flavor of the fruit is 
best wdien the plants are not too w-et ; when the fruit has 
attained a nice size, raise them up as mtich as possible, 
so that it can get all the air and sunshine possible ; attend 
to sto]:)ping and remove all weak and superfluous growth. 
By following the above methods of cultivation, the 
writer has had a succession of large fine flavored fruit, 
quite a number weighing over eight poimds each. 
INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SHOW 
New York, March 15-22, 1917 
NATIONAL ROSE FESTIVAL 
Philadelphia, March 20-23, 1917 
BOSTON SPRING FLOWER SHOW 
Boston, March 21-25, 1917 
ST. 
LOUIS SPRING FLOWER SHOW 
St. Louis, March 15-18, 1917 
