THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [APRIL 



the finer the particles of which the clay is composed, the faster will 

 it hold every small particle of water, and consequently be longer in 

 drying, and become harder when dry ; but earth of a consistence 

 that will hold water the longest without becoming hard when dry, is 

 that of all others best adapted for raising the generality of plants in 

 the greatest perfection. This last described is called loam, and is a 

 medium earth between the extremes of clay and sand. 



The great art of improving sandy and clay soils, is to give to the 

 former such dressings of clay, cow-dung, and other kinds of manure, 

 as will have a tendency to bind and make it more compact, and con- 

 sequently more retentive of moisture; and to the latter, coats of 

 sandy earth, pond-mud, horse-dung, and such other composts as may 

 tend to separate its particles and open its pores, thereby easily to 

 discharge any superabundance of moisture, and cause it to approach 

 as near as possible to a loam, which may be greatly assisted by sum- 

 mer and winter fallowing ; for the winter frost and summer heat being 

 the plough and spade of nature, have a power to separate the parti- 

 cles of earth, by the expansion of the particles of water lodged be- 

 tween and in contact with them, more effectually than the ploughs 

 and spades made by the hand of man ; but when art and nature act 

 in co-operation, the business is more speedily accomplished. This is 

 the foundation stone of horticulture and agriculture, and merits the 

 serious consideration of every person concerned. 



Let it not be understood that I am an advocate for late sowing or 

 planting ; I am the reverse, when it can be done under favorable cir- 

 cumstances. 



The above remarks are applicable generally to all the other open 

 ground departments, as well as to the Kitchen Garden ; but particu- 

 larly inasmuch as they have relation to the sowing of seeds. 



CARE OF CUCUMBERS AND MELONS, ETC. 



Examine your cucumber and melon beds, and if any have declined 

 in heat, especially in the early part of the month, line them with 

 fresh dung, as directed in page 25 : this will be necessary, in order 

 to obtain plentiful crops of fruit. 



As the sun is now become very powerful, all kinds of plants which 

 you have in hot-beds, will require abundance of air, and occasional 

 shade, for if the beds were left close shut only for a few hours during 

 the prevalence of a hot mid-day sun, the whole would be scorched 

 to death : therefore you ought never to leave the garden at such times 

 without first raising the glasses and giving shade to the plants if 

 thought necessary. 



MAKING NEW HOT-BEDS FOR CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 



In order to have successional crops of cucumbers and melons, you 

 may in the early part of this month make new hot-beds, either for 

 the reception of plants or for sowing the seeds ; observing the direc- 

 tions given in the former months, as well for these, as the due atten- 

 tion which fruiting and other plants require. 



