192 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [MARCH 



CUCUMBERS AND MELONS FOR BELL OR HAND-GLASSES. 



About the eighteenth or twentieth, or any time towards the end of 

 this month, is the time to begin to sow the cucumbers and melons 

 which are to be planted under hand or bell-glasses. 



They may be sown in any of the cucumber hot-beds now at work ; 

 or if not convenient, or there are no such beds made, make a hot-bed 

 for that purpose, for a one, two, or three light frame, according to 

 the quantity of plants required; sow the seed, and manage the beds 

 as directed in the two former months. The plants will be ready for 

 ridging out by the middle' or towards the end of next month ; the 

 cucumbers will be in bearing the latter end of May, and the melons 

 in July. 



CAULIFLOWERS. 



Where cauliflower plants were raised from seeds sown last month, 

 they should as soon in this as they have arrived to the height of 

 three or four inches, be pricked into a new slight hot-bed, made for 

 that purpose, at the distance of three inches every way, and managed 

 as directed in February, page 132. 



By pricking out the plants on a little bottom heat, it will forward 

 them considerably, and by thus transplanting, they will become 

 strong and well furnished with roots, and consequently will succeed 

 much better when planted out than if suffered to remain in the seed 

 bed. 



The autumn sown plants, and those which you had transplanted 

 last month, from the January sowing, must now have plenty of air, 

 and this in proportion as the season advances, and the weather grows 

 warm, in order to harden them for bearing the open air, when planted 

 out where intended for flowering, which cannot be done with safety 

 in the middle States before the last week in this month, or r-ather 

 the first in April ; nor in the eastern States before the second week 

 or middle of that month, unless you have hand-glasses to cover them, 

 in which case they may be planted out any time that the ground is 

 in good condition, after the middle of March. 



The latter method I would recommend, provided the plants are 

 large, the spring early, and that you have the convenience of hand- 

 glasses, but not otherwise. 



Theugh at this early period the ground best adapted for producing 

 good cauliflowers is not always in a proper state for cultivation, which 

 ought to be a principal consideration, either in the planting or sowing 

 of any crops whatever, and never departed from, should the season 

 prove ever so late. 



Cauliflower seed may be sown the beginning of this month, as 

 directed in January, page 29, which, if well attended to, and judi- 

 diciously managed, and the great summer heats should not set in at 

 an early period, will head tolerably well ; but if these circumstances 

 do not follow, a great number of them will not flower before late in 

 autumn, and some not even then ; such of these as do not flower 

 before the setting in of the winter frosts, are to be treated as directed 



