SECT. XIV, OF KAISING MELOXS. 211 



trench, to the sides and top of the bed, about three 

 or four inches thick, breaking it fine, and cover all 

 over with mats to draw up the heat : But never ex- 

 pect ridged out melons (particularly) to do well in a 

 light soil. When the earth is warm, put in the plants^ 

 two in a hole (or only one) giving a little warm wa- 

 ter, and cover with large hand or bell glasses, or 

 oiled paper lights, and proceed to manage according 

 to that discretion which the directions already given 

 about melons and cucumbers have inculcated. 



As the bed sinks, and the roots spread, take care 

 to add a good thickness of mould around the hill, 

 for the plants to strike into, and to keep them up : 

 This may be put in a week or ten days, and it will 

 keep out cold air and wet from the dung : but it is 

 best not done at first. When the plants spread to 

 the extent of the bed, the ground about it should be 

 dug over, and rotten dung buried to raise it to the 

 level of the bed ; but, perhaps, this work has been 

 superseded by the necessity of a lining to throw in 

 heat. 



If the plants are forward enough to ridge out in 

 April, or beginning of May, it may be proper to 

 make these beds on the level surface, or nearly so, 

 for the sake of lining ; but if la^er, they may be sunk 

 as directed above, or deeper still, in a dry soil. Re- 

 member, it will be necessary to line, if there appears 

 any likelihood of a want of heat, before the fruit is 

 set, and got a little forward ; and be sure to do it 

 in time. 



If two ridges of melon plants, let there be four 

 feet (or more) of alley between them, and then a 

 lining may be applied of that width to heat both 

 beds ; and this middle heat may be made use of to 

 raise plants for the third crop of cucumbers, or ten- 

 der annual flowers, purslane, &c. Give ridged out 

 plants air on the south side. They will need more 



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