OP THE MELON. 67 



is formed, let it be again watered, as the plants 

 will not thrive so well, nor the linings have the 

 proper effect, if the bed is kept too dry. 



The bed should be made three weeks or a 

 month before the plants are put into it, and 

 must be perfectly sweet before they are ridged 

 out. When the bed is in a proper condition, 

 hollow it out in the middle to the depth of four 

 inches, and put a large barrow-fiill of mould to 

 each hill, pressing it down close with the hand 

 about a foot deep. 



The day before you intend to ridge out, put 

 a pot of plants in the bed, to prove whether it is 

 sweet, which, if you ascertain to be the case, and 

 the box is large, ridge them out, three plants to 

 a light ; but if small two will be sufficient. 



The proper time to sow the seed for an early 

 crop is about the middle of January ; and the 

 early cucumber bed will do very well for the 

 purpose. Those sown at this time will be fit to 

 cut in the first or second week of May ; but if 



K2 



