396 



JUNE. 



WORK TO BE DONE IN THE KITCHEN-GARDEN, 



Melons and Cucumbers. 



ABOUT the first of this month, all your melons and cucum- 

 bers, that have been hitherto under the protection of glasses, or 

 paper-frames, may be fully exposed to the open air ; having been 

 previously and gradually inured thereto. A piece of shingle or 

 board should be laid under each fruit, of the early melons, to pre- 

 serve them from the damp of the earth, which would injure their 

 flavour. Occasional refrehments of water will be necessary, but 

 particularly to the cucumbers. 



Your principal or general crops of melons and cucumbers, in 

 the open ground, should now be kept totally free from weeds ; the 

 ground between the plants must be frequently hoed, and the earth 

 drawn gently to the stems of the latest sown ; the vines should be 

 laid off, in a neat and regular manner, and when any of them are 

 too luxuriant, check them, by nipping off the extremities of the 

 runners. 



In the last week of this month, sow general crops of cucumbers 

 and melons for pickling ; which is to be done in the same manner, 

 as directed in page 360. The long oval musk melon, and the long 

 prickly cucumber, are in general estimation for this purpose ; but 

 the cluster cucumber, on account of its numerous bearing, and 

 small fruit, is by many preferred. 



Water Melons. 



If not done before, thin your water melons, leaving but three of the 

 best plants in each hill, and draw the earth with a hoe up round the 

 hiils, till the steins of the plants are covered up to the seed leaves ; 

 the ground between them must be kept perfectly free from weeds, 

 either by hoeing, or (if cultivated on a large scale,) by ploughing- 

 and harrowing, in the early part of the season. 



Squashes and Pumpkins. 



Squashes and pumpkins may be treated in the same way, as di- 

 rected for Water Melons ; they are more hardy, and do not require 

 so very particular attention ; however, the ground must be kept 

 loose and free from weed, for it will be in vain otherwise to expect 

 proli table crops. 



