17 2 The Kitchen Garden. [Apr, 



Air fhould be admitted to the plants every day. This 

 is done by raifmg the lights on the back part of the frame 

 with props, obferving to raife them more or lefs, in pro- 

 portion to the temperature of the heat in the beds, and 

 according as the weather will permit; that is, remember- 

 ing if there be a tolerable warmth in the bed, and the 

 weather mild, not to fail to raife the glalTes from one to 

 two or three inches high, as the heat of the day increafes, 

 but efpecially in funny days ; but in cloudy da) s, when 

 there is a fliarp air, or high winds ftirring, raife the lights 

 but little at fuch a time, or fometimes not at all if very cold. 



For the purpofe of raifmg the lights to admit air, &c. 

 you fhould b? provided with wooden props, one for each 

 light, which fhould be made wedge fafhion, making the 

 biggeftend three inches .and a half deep, working it off to 

 nothing at the other, and with thofe you can readily raife 

 the lights to what height you fhall judge proper, according 

 to the warmth of the bed or temperature of the weather. 



Let mats be thrown over the glaffes every evening, 

 about fun-fetting, and take them oil' again in the morn- 

 ing, .about an hour or fo after it rifes, or as foon as the fun 

 fhines on the glaffes, when fun-Ihiny weather. 



Water the plants occafionally ; the cucumbers will re- 

 quire it often ; that is, provided there be a good 

 heat in the hot-bed, and the weather mild and funny ; 

 when a moderate watering once every four or five days, 

 or a week, will be requifite; but let this article be ap- 

 plied in moderate quantities. 



Melons fliould alfo be watered moderately, at times, 

 for they will require it ; but when thefe plants are about 

 fetting their fnut, they fhould be watered very fparingly 

 at that time, as much humidity would retard its fetting and 

 fweiling freely. 



Let decayed and damaged leaves be taken off as foon as 

 they appear on the plants, either cucumbers or melons ; 

 alfo let Till decayed male flowers be taken away, fparing 

 always a fufhciency of the frelh bioflbms for the office of 

 impregnation, as below. 



In hot days, when the fun is fierce, fo as to occafion 

 the leaves of the melons or cucumbers to flag, it will be 

 proper to fhade them for tv/o or three hours, during the 

 grf*ateft heat, with a thin mat, or With a little loofe hay 

 ftrewed thinly over the glaffes. 



The 



i 



