110 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [FEB. 



and have as much as possible in a state of forwardness, in order to 

 ease the great press of business, which will naturally come on next 

 month. 



Cucumbers and Melons. 



Where the raising of early cucumbers and melons was not begun 

 last month, it may now be commenced the beginning or middle of 

 this, with a greater prospect of success ; observing exactly the same 

 method of making the seed hot-bed, sowing the seed, and the gene- 

 ral management of the bed and plants, as directed under the'head 

 Cucumbers, Sec. in the Kitchen garden for January. 



Ridging out early Cucumbers and Melons. 



If the cucumber and melon plants, which were raised last month, 

 or the beginning of this, have not suffered by any of the accidents that 

 are attendant on them at this season, the former are now, and the 

 latter will, in the course of this month, be arrived to a proper growth 

 for ridging out into a larger hot-bed, finally to remain. 



A new bed or beds, for one or more large frames, should there- 

 fore be prepared in due time for the reception of these plants, and 

 made in the same manner as directed in January, pages 4 and 5 ; ob- 

 serving, that such must be three feet and a half, or four feet high, 

 \vhen finished ; for a less depth of dung will not produce the neces- 

 sary heat which these plants require at this inclement season ; and, 

 besides, if the beds were made of a more shallow depth, their heat 

 would be soon spent, and lining could not be applied to them with 

 so much advantage : for the latter reason particularly, they must be 

 made wholly above ground. 



The bed being finished, put on the frame or frame and lights, 

 which will defend it from wet, and bring up the heat the sooner ; 

 tilting the upper ends of the lights a little, that the steam may pass 

 off. In a week after the bed is made, if it has settled unequally, 

 take off the frame, and make the bed level ; then immediately put it 

 on again for good. 



After this, let the state of the bed be daily examined with good 

 attention ; and when you find the violent heat is over, lay in the 

 earth ; but be sure to let that first pass away. 



The earth for this purpose should be rich, and tolerably dry ; for 

 that is a material article to be regarded at this season. The earth 

 proper for cucumbers may be either any prepared compost of rich 

 loam and rotten dung, or of the temperature of light rich kitchen- 

 garden soil ; but to prepare for this, you ought, about the latter end 

 of Sept. or in October, (if the most convenient) to take from some 

 quarter of the Kitchen-garden, which is naturally light and dry, 

 and well enriched by manure, a sufficient quantity of earth, and 

 throw it up in a heap ridge-ways, in some dry place, open to the 

 sun and air ; mixing therewith at the same time some good rotten 

 dung, breaking and blending the whole well together : a due quan- 

 tity of this compost-heap should be carried into some shed, or 

 other sheltered place, open in front to the sun or free air, a month 



