114 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [FEB. 



pen-knife or small scissars, or pinched off carefully with the finger 

 and thumb ; but which ever 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 

 as above, it would perhaps run half a yard or two feet in length, 

 without putting out more runners to fill the frame, or probably 

 without showing a single fruit i for it is upon these lateral shoots 

 or runners, produced after stopping the plants, that you may expect 

 fruit to appear in any tolerable time in the season ; but let it be also 

 observed, that when the said lateral shoots have three joints, and 

 that if any of them do not then show fruit at either of these, it 

 will be proper to pinch off the top of such shoots at the third 

 joint ; which will promote their putting forth a supply of two or 

 three new shoots, some or all of which will most likely be fruitful ; 

 and after this, according as they advance in growth, train the run- 

 ners along in regular order, cut out casual very weakly vines, and 

 thin others where very irregularly crowded : thus, if the bed is well 

 managed, and the plants are forward, those of the cucumbers will 

 probably produce proper-sized fruit the end of this month, or be- 

 ginning or middle of next; but the melons not so soon by six or 

 eight weeks See next month. 



Of sowing Cucumber and Melon Seed. 



As there may be many persons who did not begin last nronth to 

 sow cucumbers for an early crop, it- will here be proper to take no- 

 tice, that the beginning, middle, or any time of this month, is still 

 a good time to begin that work, making a hot-bed for sowing the 

 seed, as directed in January, pages 4 and 5. 



Those which are sown early in this month, will, with good ma- 

 nagement, produce fruit in the end of March, or beginning of 

 April ; and those sown in the middle or latter end of the month 

 will have fruit the end of April, and will bear plentifully in May. 



The beginning of this month is a very good time to sow melons 

 for a full crop in the frames. 



The seed hot-bed which is to be made now, either for cucumbers 

 or melons, must be of the same dimensions ; and the seeds sown, 

 and plants managed, as directed last month. 



But observe, that to be well supplied with cucumber or melon 

 plants, either to plant in new beds, or to have a reserve in case of ac- 

 cidents happening to any already planted out, it will be very proper 

 to sow some seeds at three different times this month. 



These may be sown in such cucumber hot-beds as are already 

 made and in cultivation, and when fit to prick out, plant them in 

 small pots, as directed last month, which may be plunged in the back 

 part of the same bed, where they may be kept till wanted, either 

 for new, or to supply any deficiency in the present beds. 



