FEB.] CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 340 



ever, to forward or protract the growtli of the one 

 part, or of tlie other, the pit may be divided in 

 a temporary way, by fitting a board neatly undev 

 tlie middle rafter. By this means, one-half may be 

 kept cooler or hotter than the other, by matting 

 or not matting, or by the admission of more or less 

 air, &c. 



In filling tlie first end of the pit a second time, 

 if bark be used, it will not be necessary to add fresh 

 materials ; as trenching over the bed will be found 

 to answer the purpose, even a third time. And in 

 using dung, the stirring up of the old, and adding 

 as much new" as will raise the bed to a proper height, 

 finishing v/ith the smallest and best fennented part, 

 will i^enerallv be sufficient for a second filling. For 

 a third filling, one-half new dung may be necessary, 

 which, however, should be moderately fermented, 

 and be kept well do\vn. 



Of forcing Cucumbers and Melons, 

 When the seedling cucumbers and melons (sown 

 as directed last month) are about an inch and a 

 half high, they are then fit to be pricked out into 

 nursing pots. These pots should be about three 

 and a half or four inches diameter at top, and as 

 much in depth. The mould to be used should be 

 the same as that the seeds were sown in, and should 

 be laid in the frame a few hours previous to pot- 

 ting, in order to bring it to a proper degree of 

 warmth, that the tender fibrils be not chilled by it. 

 Let the pots be filled about one-half with the 

 earth ; turn the plants carefully ojit of tlie seed- 



