ii6 The GardeMer's New Director. 



The place where thefc plants are to be railed, fliould 

 be well expcfed to the jun, and enclofcd with reed 

 hedges, mud wallb or pales, to break off the violence of 

 the wind. And the frames wherein the plants are to 

 produce their fiuit, ihould be larger than thofe which 

 are made ufe of for the raifmg of Cucumbers. The 

 fize of a two-light Melon-frame, fliould be ieven feet 

 and an half long, and four feet and an half wide ; and 

 a three-light one in proportion. The heft comport; for 

 your plant is tlie following, viz. Take one load ot loamy 

 earth from under the turf of a good pafture, half that 

 quantity of good old cow-dung, and three wheel-bar- 

 rows full of rotten dung fronri the old Cucumber or Me- 

 lon beds. Mix thefe well together by flirring, and then 

 throw the w hole up in a ridge to receive the air. 'i^his 

 fhould be prepared three or four months before it is ufed. 

 The large clods {hould be well broken, but it muft not 

 be fcreened or fifted. If Cucumbers are to be raifed in 

 the fame ground, it will be neceflary to make a divifion 

 with a reed hedge, mud wall, 3zc. running north and 

 Jouth : For they are apt to degenerate, when raifed to- 

 gether. Nor, for either purpofe, fhould you tread or 

 beat the beds clofe ; but let them fettle of themfelves. 

 For this will prolong the fermentation of them, and 

 they will be the lefs fubjed to burn. I have found by 

 experience, that the mixing of coal afhes with the 

 dung will prevent the free penetration of the air, anct 

 frequently ruin the bed crops. The frequent flopping 

 of the Runners will alio occafion a great number of 

 weak ftoots, a Grange confufion of Vine, and the 

 fmall fruit will turn yellow and drop off. They fhould 

 not be flopped, or cut, till the fruit is as big as an egg. 

 Then ftop them two joints beyond the fruit. 



For the convenience of watering the plants, without 

 welting the leaves or fruit, place a garden-pot, w-ith a 

 fmall hole at the bottom, among the leaves, and at fome 

 diflance from the principal ftem. Put a little hay or 

 grafs at the bottom of it, that the water may not pafs 

 through too freely to wafli ihe mould from the roots : 

 Remove the pot difcretionally to any part of the bed 

 which may require water. For this is abundantly bet- 

 ter 



