FEB.j CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. S5l 



Mat up carefully at night ; but make a point of 

 admitting all the sun and liglit possible to the plants; 

 therefore uncover always by sunrise ; and fi'equent- 

 ly wash or wipe the glasses clean, outside and in- 

 side, as they are often clogged by a mixture of steam 

 and dust. Also, occasionally stir the surface of the 

 sand or earth in the frame with the point of a sticky 

 in order to extii'pate vapour that hovers on the sur- 

 face, and so purify the internal air of the bed. 



If the heat begin ta decrease, and particularly if 

 the weather be severe, it may be necessary to line 

 one or more sfdes of the bed, that the plants may 

 receive no check in their growth. If it be a one- 

 light box, both back and front m.ay be lined at the 

 same time ; and if necessary, in ten or twelve days, 

 the two sides. Observe the same method, as direct- 

 ed above for lining the asparagus bed, page 346 j 

 and if much steam arise from the linings after they 

 eome into- heat, be careful, in matting at night, to 

 tuck up the edges of the mat, lest it be thrown in- 

 to the bed. 



Let dung be put ia preparation for ridging heds, 

 and so as that it may be ready about the first of 

 March j as about that time, if all have gone well, 

 the plants will be fit for ridging^ or finally planting 

 out. The dung must be carefully fermented, ac- 

 cording to the hints given at page 332^ and accord- 

 ing to its state, as whether it be littery, or other- 

 wise^ 



