June  5,  1902. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
493 
Poinological  Notes. 
Melons. 
In  houses  or  hot-water  heated  pits  where  the  fruit  is  ripening, 
a  rather  dry  and  warm  condition  of  tlie  atmosphere  will  be 
required,  allowing  a  circulation  of  air  constantly,  moderating  the 
water  at  the  roots,  but  if  the  soil  be  kept  too  dry  the  foliage  will 
suffer,  and  the  fruit  deteriorate  in  juiciness  and  quality,  while 
the  prospects  of  a  second  crop  will  be  seriously  interfered  with 
if  not  rendered  impracticable.  When  the  crop  is  cleared  prepare 
for  another.  If  the  plants  have  fallen  a  prey  to  red  spider 
thoroughly  cleanse  the  house  with  softsoapy  water,  the  glass 
with  water  only,  limewashing  the  walls,  and  removing  the  whole 
of  the  soil.  If  fermenting  materials  have  been  used  for  bottom 
heat  add  some  fresh,  and  mix  with  the  top  18in  or  2ft  of  the  old 
material,  some  of  the  most  exhausted  being  removed.  Make 
•firm,  put  in  ridges  or  hillocks  of  good  strong  loam;  if  not  cal- 
'careous  add  some  old  mortar  rubbish  and  road  scrapings  if  de¬ 
ficient  of  grit.  Tread  well  down  in  a  couple  of  days,  as  the 
shorter  jointed  and  more  sturdy  the  plants  will  be,  also  the 
more  fruitful,  and  the  fruits  more  solid.  In  planting,  too,  make 
the  soil  firm  about  the  roots,  and  the  soil  and  ball  being  moist, 
no  water  will  be  required  until  the  plants  have  taken  to  the 
fresh  soil.  Shade  for  a  few  days  from  bright  sun,  and  maintain 
a  genial  condition  of  the  atmosphere  by  damping  the  paths  and 
other  surfaces  in  the  morning  and  early  afternoon.  Maintain  a 
night  temperature  of  65deg  to  70deg,  70deg  to  75degby  day,  ven¬ 
tilating  between  those  degrees.  Keep  through  the  day  80deg  to 
85deg  or  90deg  from  sun  heat,  and  close  sufficiently  early  to 
maintain  the  latter  temperature  for  some  time. 
Plants  in  flower  require  a  little  air  constantly,  with  a  free 
circulation  on  fine  days,  fertilising  the  flowers  as  they  become 
fully  expanded,  and  when  a  sufficient  number  of  fruits  are  set 
on  a  plant  remove  all  others  and  all  flowers.  Three  or  four 
fruits  are  as  many  as  a  healtliy  plant  can  bring  to  maturity,  good 
in  size,  and  of  perfect  finish,  of  fine  luscious  quality.  Plants 
swelling  their  fruits  should  have  liberal  supplies  of  water,  supply¬ 
ing  liquid  manure  or  top-dressings  of  fertilisers  washed  in,  addi¬ 
tions  of  fresh  soil  being  made  to  the  hillocks  or  ridges  as  the 
roots  protrude. 
Young  plants  in  frames  with  the  shoots  trained  over  the 
surface  must  be  thinned  to  four,  taking  two  to  the  front  and  two 
to  the  back,  keeping  the  laterals  rubbed  off  to  Gin  from  the  main 
stem  and  pinching  the  principal  shoots  when  IGin  to  18in  from  the 
sides  of  the  frames  or  pits.  The  laterals  will  show  fruit  at  the 
first  or  second  joint,  and  the  flowers  being  fully  expanded,  fer¬ 
tilise  them  about  noon  on  fine  days,  leaving  a  little  air  on  con¬ 
stantly  to  prevent  the  condensation  of  moisture,  a  moist,  close 
atmosphere  being  fatal  to  a  good  set.  Pinch  out  the  points  of 
the  shoots  one  joint  above  the  fruit,  and  after  three  or  four 
fruits  are  set  upon  a  plant,  remove  all  others.  Keep  the  laterals 
closely  pinched,  and  thin  them  if  likely  to  crowd  the  principal 
leaves.  Afford  liquid  manure,  but  keep  it  from  the  foliage,  and 
sprinkle  the  plants  in  the  afternoon  of  fine  days,  but  not  over 
the  stems,  closing  about  3.30  to  4.0  p.m.,  or  .so  early  as  to  raise 
the  temperature  to  90deg  or  95deg,  and  ventilate  early  in  the 
day,  or  from  7.30  to  8  a.m.,  gradually  reducing  the  temperature 
after  keeping  through  the  day  at  80deg  to  85deg  or  90deg. 
Keep  a  sharp  look  out  for  aphides,  and  fumigate  on  two  or  tiireo 
consecutive  evenings  moderately,  an  overdose  doing  great  injury. 
If  canker  appears,  rub  quicklime  into  the  affected  parts.  Shade 
from  bright  sun,  but  only  to  prevent  flagging. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines  In  Early  Houses. 
When  trees  of  the  very  early  varieties,  such  as  Alexander, 
Waterloo,  and  Early  Louise  Peaches,  Advance  and  t'ardinai 
Nectarines,  havm  been  cleared  of  the  fruits,  the  shoots  on  which 
they  were  borne,  if  not  required  for  the  extension  of  the  trees. 
Temple  Show :  Messrs.  Veitch’s  Caladiums,  Orchids,  Nepenthes,  &c. 
