4 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [JAN. 



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

 in the middle and eastern stales. 



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 

 short prickly, and long green prickly ; of which the first sort comes 

 earliest ; but the latter is considerably the finest fruit, and greatly 

 preferable for general culture. 



And 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 flavour ; and is in much estimation. 



The true Cantalcujie or Armenian ivarted Melon, is very scarce in 

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

 little compressed a.t both ends, the surface full of ivarted Jirotuberan- 

 cc-Sy like some species of squash, the flesh reddish, firm, and of a 

 most delicious rich flavour ; of which there are several varieties, dif- 

 fering principally in colour, and commonly called black rock, gol- 

 den rock, Sec. 



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 of Asia, in which is situat- 

 ed the famous Mount Ararat. 



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

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

 though well flavoured ; the Polignac, Nutmeg and Minorca are also 

 fine melons ; but it may also be eligible to raise two, three, or more 

 of the best approved different sorts. 



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

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

 or four years 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 

 i\ quantity of fresh hot stable-dung, whertwith 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 fora one or two light frame 

 may be sufficient, in which case two cart-load of hot dung will be 

 enough for making a bed of proper dimensions for a one-light box, 

 and so in proportion for a larger. 



Agreeably to these intimations, provide the requisite supply of 

 good horse-stable-dung from the dunghills in stable-yards, Sec. 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 prefering that which is of some lively, warm, 



steamy quality j and of which take the long and short together as it 



