20 



THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



[JAN. 



tender quality, require the aid of artificial heat under shelter of 

 frames and glasses, until the middle or latter end of May, especially 

 in the Middle and Eastern States. 



But by the aid of hot-beds, defended with frames and glasses, we 

 obtain early cucumbers, in young green fruit, fit to cut or gather in 

 February, March, and April, &c., and ripe melons in May and June. 

 The proper sorts of cucumbers for the early crops are the early Ken- 

 yon's free bearer, and Syon House, and Walker's Improved ; of which 

 the first sort comes earliest ; but the latter is considerably the finest 

 fruit, and greatly preferable for general culture. 



The following cut represents a house built for forcing the cucum- 

 ber, which may be done in the coldest weather with perfect success. 



The house is heated 



Fig. 1. by a flue A B, or still 



better by hot- water pipes 

 and a boiler ; such a 

 house might be ten feet 

 long and ten wide, as 

 desired, and in it bush- 

 beans, strawberries, &c., 

 could be forced, and 

 young flowering plants 

 will here find a conge- 

 nial atmosphere. There 

 is no necessity of going 

 to the expense of such 

 a house where there are 

 other buildings in which 



tender exotics are grown and a night temperature of 60 is kept, as 

 a small space may be used for this purpose, and four or five plants 

 trained up near the glass, will give a supply for a small family the 

 whole winter. 



If early melons are also required, there are several varieties of the 

 fruit : the Cantaleupe is one of the best for its handsome growth, 

 good size, and superior flavor ; and is in much estimation. 



The true Cantaleupe, or Armenian warted Melon, is very scarce in 

 the United States ; its fruit is large, roundish, and deeply ribbed, a 

 little compressed at both ends, the surface full of warted protuber- 

 ances, like some species of squash, the flesh reddish, firm, and of a 

 most delicious rich flavor ; of which there are several varieties, differ- 

 ing principally in color, and commonly called black rock, golden 

 rock, &c. 



This variety of melon derives the term Cantaleupe from a place of 

 that name near Rome, where it was first cultivated in Europe 

 brought thence from Armenia, a country in Asia, in which is situated 

 the famous Mount Ararat. 



But it may also be proper to raise some of the others for variety ; 

 the Eomana is a great bearer, comes early, but the fruit much smaller, 

 though well flavored ; the Polignac, Nutmeg, the best for general 

 crop, and Minorca, are also fine melons; but it may also be eligible 

 to raise two, three, or more of the best approved different sorts. 



