AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 5UU 



carefully along the centre of this ridge, in hills from four to six 

 feet apart. Set a hand-glass over each hill ; give air and cul- 

 ture as needed until the vines begin to run freely, then raise 

 the hand-glasses upon bricks or blocks, that they may pass un- 

 der ; nip or stop them at about two feet from .the stem, that 

 they may branch and blossom compactly ; and when the full 

 summer is upon them remove the hand-glasses entirely, and 

 give them ordinary but careful culture until the crop perfects. 



The plants for ridging or forcing, both of cucumbers and 

 melons, are in general carefully raised from old seed, that 

 the vine-growth may be moderate ; or they are produced by 

 cuttings, particularly if new seed has been sown. The cut- 

 tings are made in the ordinary manner (see page 438), and 

 being set two or three in a pot, and placed in the hot bed with 

 slight shade, will root in a week or so, and soon furnish strong 

 compact growing plants, which will also, if well raised, be 

 more hardy than those direct from seed, and less liable to 

 " damp off," as the stem-rotting of succulent plants in a cool 

 moist climate is called. 



In those climates which discourage or forbid their out-door 

 cultivation, they are often forced under glass; in hot bed or pit, 

 throughout their growth and fruiting, requiring peculiar and 

 extraordinary care in the process. 



With this view the hot bed is made as directed page 30, but 

 with ten or twelve inches' depth of earth, which should consist 

 of thoroughly-prepared garden compost (page 63), to which an 

 equal quantity of well -chopped and half-rotted loamy sod is 

 added. Tfre seeds are planted, or the potted plants set out, 

 just under the centre of each sash ; and at the appearance of 

 the third leaf, if they are seedlings, only the two or three best 

 plants are left in each hill ; the surrounding vacant space, if 

 such use of it is found desirable, can be temporarily occupied 

 by pots, in which any kinds of early plants may be raised, to 

 be taken away as fast as the growth from the central hill de- 

 mands the room. 



The most assiduous daily attention is required, to give air 

 and tepid water as may be found needful, taking especial care 

 to furnish both regularly but moderately, according to the va- 



