MELONS 169 



seeds for this purpose should be well ripened and 

 saved from fruits of the preceding year, to secure 

 the best results. 



The main crop in frames is generally sown in 

 February and March. A hot-bed 2-J to 3 ft. thick is 

 made of quite fresh and old manure in equal propor- 

 tions. It is trodden down and made firm and level, 

 and if necessary well watered. Then, before placing 

 the frame upon it, the bed is covered with 6 to 8 in. 

 of fine and rich gritty mould that has been passed 

 through a sieve. The frame is placed in position, and 

 is banked up or " lined " all round with a good layer 

 of manure to keep the cold out and the heat constant 

 within. 



When the heat of the bed has sunk to 75 or 80 F., 

 the seeds are sown about I in. apart in shallow drills. 

 They are lightly covered with soil, and gently watered. 

 For two or three days until the seeds begin to sprout 

 the frame is kept close and covered with mats. After 

 germination, the mats are taken off during the day- 

 time, but placed on again at night, and a little air is 

 given for an hour or two each day when the weather 

 is genial. 



Should the temperature within the frame fall below 

 68 or 70 F., the old manure outside the frame must 

 be removed, and fresh hot manure should take its 

 place. 



At the end of fourteen or eighteen days, when the 

 seed-leaves are well developed, another hot-bed to 

 accommodate a three-light frame should be made up in 

 the same way as the first. The young Melons are 

 then either pricked out of the seed-bed into the new 

 soil about 4 or 5 in. apart, making a hole with the 



