April 5, 1883. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
271 
W*<S*r 
5th 
Tn 
Royal Society at 4.30 p.m. Linnean Society at 8 p.m. 
6th 
F 
7 th 
s 
8th 
SUN 
2nd Sunday after Easter. 
9th 
M 
I Oth 
TU 
Royal Horticultural Society, Fruit and Floral Committees at 
11th 
W 
[11 A.M. 
MELON CULTURE IN POTS. 
^^^v^^HERE are men who hold the opinion that 
VKaiAj r g° od Crapes are more easily grown than 
Vigood Melons, and I am inclined to agree 
with them ; hut it must he remembered 
there are Melons and Melons. To be 
plain, there are some grown that are 
most delicious, and there are many grown, 
and these far outnumber the former, which 
are positively unfit to eat. Who lias not heard 
visitors to private gardens observe when seeing 
a crop of Melons, “Oh! I do not like Melons?” 
Those who make the remark in my presence are gene¬ 
rally asked if they have ever tasted a good one. At 
one time I used to imagine that the judges at exhi¬ 
bitions must experience great difficulty in awarding 
the prizes for Melons, especially where many are staged. 
In reality there is little difficulty about the matter, as 
not one-tenth require a second taste. Grapes which 
are not of sufficient merit to win a prize may yet be of 
excellent table quality, but this is seldom the case with 
Melons, and therefore if we say good Grapes are more 
easily grown than good Melons we do not err. 
Why so many fail to grow Melons to perfection it is 
difficult to explain, as after all they can be, and are, 
frequently grown surprisingly well by comparative 
novices in a variety of soils and under various condi¬ 
tions. Some grow Melons in turfy loam with and 
without manure mixed with it; others in loam taken 
from under the turf, not because they prefer it, but 
because the turf must be returned in order to preserve 
appearances; and others have to be content with ordi¬ 
nary garden soil. They are amenable to house, pit, 
and frame culture, and may be planted in mounds of 
soil, in temporary brick pits, in boxes and pots, and in 
every case success may result. The fact is, with 
Melons, in common with other popular plants and fruits, 
certain composts, positions,- and temperatures may be 
desirable, but are not absolutely necessary, everything 
really depending upon the intelligence of the cultivator. 
I am very fond of growing Melons, and have tried 
various schemes with varying success rather than be 
without them, consequently I am in a position to offer 
advice on the subject. I propose to dwell briefly upon 
several methods of culture rather than confine myself 
exclusively to that which I may think the best, well 
knowing that what is possible in one case is impossible 
in another, and by including all I may perhaps benefit 
a greater number. It is only of late years that Melons 
have been so extensively grown in houses, as formerly 
they were principally grown in pits and frames. The 
latter structures are still utilised for them by perhaps 
the majority, but as the systems pursued must neces¬ 
sarily differ they may well be included in separate 
communications. 
Considerable pains should be taken in preparing the 
plants for all methods of culture. We sow the seed 
singly in 3-incli pots, using a compost of two parts of 
loam to one of leaf soil. The pots are plunged in a 
bottom heat of about 70°, and watered if the soil is 
dry. Excessive moisture in the case of the earliest 
sowings is apt to rot the seed, neither do the seedlings 
require much water at the roots for the first few days. 
When in rough leaf they are supported with stakes 
and raised on the beds or stood on the walls, thus 
bringing them nearer the glass and much strengthen¬ 
ing them. We always try to avoid giving the plants 
a check in any way, and therefore should they be in 
advance of their intended site they are shifted into 
6-inch pots, employing soil previously warmed and 
composed of loam and a little manure. In this manner 
they continue to improve, and Avhen finally planted 
are soon well established. We endeavour to raise 
more than are required, but do not keep the weakest 
surplus plants standing about in a semi-starved state 
with the idea of utilising them for a later crop, a by- 
no-means uncommon proceeding. Far better it is to 
raise a fresh batch of plants and keep these growing 
and clear of any other kind of plants which may be 
insect-infested. None but clean plants should be 
commenced with, as Melons must be kept free of the 
insect pests, to which they are peculiarly liable, as much 
as possible if success is to be assured. 
There is no necessity to plant a whole house at one 
time, neither is it advisable where space is limited and 
the supply required to be regular. If we put out a 
dozen plants at once, no matter how many varieties 
are included, there is eventually almost certain to be 
an undesirable supply—too many ripe at once, whereas 
if the grower had made three sowings and plantings, 
say at fortnightly intervals, this would have been 
avoided. No difference whatever need be made in the 
atmosphere and temperature of the house at the ripen¬ 
ing stage, but rather less water may be given at the 
roots of the most forward without affecting those 
swelling off their fruits. We devote three houses 
principally to Melons, the plants for the earliest crop 
being obtained from seed sown about the middle of 
January, and these are in their fruiting quarters at 
the end of February. The next were raised three weeks 
later, and this season Avere planted March 15th, Avhile 
the last batch Avere soavii about the same date. All 
are supposed to perfect tAvo or more crops each, and 
Ave ought not to have a break in the supply from the 
commencement to the end of the season. 
Where space is limited, or if variety be an object, I 
recommend pot culture, this method admitting of a 
greater number of plants being trained on a given 
space, the restricted root-run naturally having a cor¬ 
responding influence upon the top growth. It is sur¬ 
prising Avliat a number of good fruits may be secured 
from a row of plants in pots; indeed, some of our most 
successful groAvers—notably Mr. Coleman at Eastnor 
Castle and Mr. Austin at Ashton Court—grow Melons 
extensively in pots, not, however, because space is 
limited, but because they believe it to be the most 
profitable method. It may be their skilful treatment 
has most to do with the result; at any rate the careless 
No 145 .—Yol. VI., Third Series. 
No. 1801.—Vol. LXIX., Old Series. 
