422 THE FORCING GARDEN. [[SEPT. 



per to apply fire-heat, in order to further the pro- 

 gress of the late fruit, and to dry off damps. Let 

 the fires be made very moderate at first, however, 

 and increase their strength, as the season becomes 

 more cold and wet. 



Keep the mercury up to about 70° in the night ; 

 and in the day, by the admission of air, keep it 

 down to about 80°, or 7<5°. 



Very little water will now suffice for the plants, as 

 their roots will be fully established, and be spread 

 over the whole bed ; the heat of which will also 

 now have subsided. They should only, therefore, 

 have a little water once in eight or ten days ; and, 

 as the fruit begin to ripen off, entirely withhold it. 



Keep the plants moderately thin of vines and 

 foliage ; be careful to pick off all damped leaves as 

 they appear ; and fully expose the fruit to the sun 

 as it ripens, in the manner directed for melons in 

 the hot-bed. 



In this manner, I have often had melons in Oc- 

 tober and November, fully swelled, and in good, 

 but not of course in /z%^ perfection, for w^ant of 

 sun to give them flavour. Any who have a pit of 

 this kind, however, for the forcing of early vege- 

 tables, strawberries, flowers, &c. cannot, perhaps, 

 occupy it to a better purpose in the latter part *of 

 the season ; as the trouble is but little, and tl>e 

 expense not worth m.entioning. 



