FEB.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 12t 



appear through the sides of the hills, then add some fresh, light, rich 

 earth all around them. About three days after you may lay some 

 more ; and in two or three days after that you may earth the bed all 

 over to the full thickness. But before you lay the fresh earth to the 

 sides of the hills, let it be first laid a few hours, or for one night in 

 the frame, up towards the sides, that it may acquire an equal degree 

 of warmth with that in the bed ; then, being applied as above, it will 

 not be in danger of chilling the roots of the plants. 



The next particular care is that of lining the hot-bed when the 

 heat declines ; therefore, when the heat of the bed begins to decrease 

 much, let a lining of the best hot dung be applied in due time to 

 the back or front of the bed, or to both if the heat is very much de- 

 clined. The dung for this purpose should be prepared in the same 

 manner as that for making the bed. Remember, that if there was 

 a lining of dry litter laid around the sides of the bed to defend it 

 from wet, &c., as before directed, this must first be removed before 

 you apply the lining; then line the sides of the bed about from 

 twelve to fifteen or eighteen inches wide, according as the heat is less 

 or more declined, which should be raised about four or five inches 

 higher than the dung of the bed, to allow for settling. Lay some 

 earth on the top of the lining to keep the rank steam of the fresh 

 dung from coming up that way, which, if it did, would be apt to 

 enter the frame at the place where the lights are raised to admit air, 

 and prove of bad consequence to the plants. 



OP STOPPING OR TOPPING THE ABOVE PLANTS. 



The young plants, both cucumbers and melons, should be stopped 

 or topped, if not done before, at the first joint, by pruning off the 

 top of the first runner-bud, which is necessary to promote a stocky 

 growth, and cause them to put forth lateral shoots at the first and 

 second joints to form fruitful runners, and from these others of the 

 same nature will be produced. 



This operation should be performed when the plants have two 

 rough leaves, and when the second is about an inch broad, having 

 the first runner-bud rising at its base. The sooner this is detached 

 the sooner the plants acquire strength and put out fruitful runners. 

 It is to be done in the following manner : 



You will see arising, in the centre of the plant, at the bottom of 

 the second rough leaf, the end of the first runner, like a small bud, 

 which bud or runner, being the advancing top of the plant, is now 

 to be taken off close, and may be done either with the point of a pen- 

 knife or small scissors, or pinched off carefully with the finger and 

 thumb ; but, whichever way you take it off, be careful not to go so 

 close as to wound the joint from whence it proceeds. 



Having thus pruned or stopped the plants at the first joint, they 

 will by that means very quickly get strength, as will plainly appear 

 in a few days, and, in about a week or ten or twelve days after being 

 thus treated, will each begin to send forth two or three runners, 

 which runners will probably show fruit at their first, second, or 

 third joints; for, if the main or first runner was not to be stopped 



