THE MELONRY. 367 



watered occasionally in the warmest part of the day. As 

 the heat of the hotbed declines, it is supported by linings 

 of fermenting litter, applied from time to time, around its 

 outer sides. The lining should not exeeed fifteen or 

 eighteen inches in thickness, and should rise above the level 

 of the bed upon the sides of the frame. 



About a month after the seeds have been sown, hotbeds 

 or pits are prepared for the reception of the young plants. 

 For the first crop, it is generally found that hotbeds are 

 preferable. These are formed about three feet and a half 

 thick, and of such extent as to receive several frames of 

 two or three lights each. The same precautions with re- 

 spect to vapor, and other matters connected with the fer- 

 mentation, are observed as in the seed-bed. When the 

 violence of the heat has begun to subside, the surface of 

 the bed is covered, to the depth of two inches, with dry, 

 light earth ; and under the centre of each sash a conical 

 heap of the same soil is formed to the height of ten inches. 

 By the following day, the earth generally acquires a suffi- 

 cient warmth, and the bed is ready for the reception of the 

 plants. The pots containing the young plants should be 

 well watered the day previous to their being ridged out, to 

 make the ball adhere together, and come out of the pot en- 

 tire. After the tops of the hillocks of earth have been flat- 

 tened a little in the centre of each, a hole is made capable 

 of containing one of the balls of earth which is to be 

 turned out of the pots. Some of the pots containing the 

 strongest plants are selected, and the young melon plants 

 are plunged out, with balls entire, into the ridges or hil- 

 locks already mentioned. After this operation has been 

 performed, they receive a gentle watering. The sashes are 

 replaced, and for some time, unless the vapor be strong, 

 little air is given. Care is taken to prevent the tender 



