JAN.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 21 



Observe, that in procuring these seeds for immediate sowing, both 

 of cucumbers and melons, it is advisable to have those of two, three, 

 or four year old, if possible, as the plants will generally show fruit 

 sooner, as well as prove more fruitful than those of new seeds, which 

 are apt to run vigorously to vine, often advancing in considerable 

 length before they show a single fruit ; but when seeds of this age 

 cannot be procured, new seeds may be improved by carrying them 

 a few weeks previous to sowing in your waistcoat or breeches pocket. 



In order to raise early cucumbers and melons, you must provide a 

 quantity of fresh hot stable dung, wherewith to make a small hot- 

 bed for a seed bed, in which to raise the plants to a proper growth 

 for transplanting into larger hot-beds next month to remain to fruit ; 

 for this purpose a small bed for a one or two-light frame may be suf- 

 ficient, in which case two cart loads of hot dung will be enough for 

 making a bed of proper dimensions for a one-light box, and so in 

 proportion for larger. 



Agreeably to these intimations, provide the requisite supply of 

 good horse-stable dung from the dung hills in stable yards, &c., con- 

 sisting of that formed of the moist stable litter and dunging of the 

 horses together, choosing that which is moderately fresh, moist, and 

 full of heat always preferring that which is of some lively, warm, 

 steamy quality and of which take the long and short altogether as it 

 occurs, in proper quantity as above. And being thus procured, pro- 

 ceed to make the hot-bed, or previously to forming it into a bed, if the 

 dung is rank, it would be proper to prepare it a little to an improved 

 state, more successful for that purpose, by forking the whole up into 

 a heap, mixing it well together, and let it thus remain eight or ten 

 days to ferment equally, and for the rank steam and fierce heat to 

 transpire or evaporate in some effectual degree; and* by which time it 

 will have acquired a proper temperament for making into a hot-bed, 

 by which treatment the heat will be steady and lasting, and not so 

 liable to become violent or burning, as when the dung is not previ- 

 ously prepared. 



Choose a place on which to make your hot-bed, in a sheltered dry 

 part of the framing ground,* &c., open to the morning and south 

 sun ; and it may be made either wholly on the surface of the ground, 

 or in a shallow trench, of from six to twelve inches deep, and four 

 or five feet wide, according to the frame ; but if made entirely on 

 the surface, which is generally the most eligible method at this early 

 season, it affords the opportunity of lining the sides of the bed with 

 fresh hot dung, quite down to the bottom, to augment the heat when 

 it declines, and also prevents wet from settling about the bottom of 

 the bed, as often happens when made in a trench, which chills the 

 dung, and causes the heat soon to decay. 



Then, according to the size of the frame, mark out the dimensions 

 of the bed, either on the ground, or with four stakes, making an 



* Framing Ground is a part of the Kitchen Garden well defended from 

 cutting winds, and well exposed to the sun ; particularly intended for 

 framing of all kinds, and generally inclosed with live or reed hedges, or 

 board fences, the former being the most preferable. 



