194? OF RAISIN^ MELONS. SECT. XIV. 



They may be wiped with a woollen cloth, or turned 

 to dry in fine weather. Confider what was faid about 

 cuciunbers, concerning too much heat, too liitle, &c. 

 After the melons have been up two or three days, (as 

 was faid before) let them be potted and plunged to the 

 rims, towards the middle of the bed; and the next day, 

 a little water (warmed in the bed) may be given the 

 roots ; or a little may be given at the fame time, if the 

 mould is quite dry. 



As foon.as the plants are potted, think, of making a 

 Jccond bed, to be ready in a week, ten days, or a fort- 

 night, (as circumftances diftatej that fo the young plants 

 may receive no check through a decline of heat in the 

 bed where they are. This bed mould be ftronger than 

 the feed-bed, and rather for a two-light frame; and 

 being moulded as foon as it can be, not to burn, let 

 the pots in, about an inch deep, and in a day or two 

 draw a little mould up round them, and £b on again. 

 But if the firft bed is warm enough to hold the plants 

 longer, the heat of this fecond bed (if violent) may be 

 fufiered to evaporate a little more firft. Here they are 

 to grow till in the fecond rough leaf, when the plants 

 {hould beJloppediAS was directed tor cucumbers. 



The third, or fruiting bed, is to be (obferve) ready 

 by a few days after the time of this Hopping the plants. 

 It (hould be njirong bed, of four feet thick, and for a 

 three-light frame, and made the higher, the more 

 ftrawy the dung is. As foon as the burning heat is 

 fufficiently abated, let the bed be covered all over with 

 good dry melon mould (the belt is a rich moderately 

 itrong loam) three or four inches, and heaps made under 

 each light of about fourteen inches depth. Melons do 

 not fruit well- in a light mould, but yet it fhcnild not be 

 a heavy one. If the mould is thought too light, let it 

 be pre (Ted a little together to give it confidence. 



To a frelh maiden foil, or good earth from the kitchen' 

 garden, that 1 is known to be in heart, (by the ftrci 

 oi'the'plaius it has produced) add about one fourth, or 



one 



