[ 200 ] 



• M A Y. 

 W^ork to he done in the Kitchen Garden. 



Melons, 



•^^01^ plants Hill require particular care ; thofe 

 ^ ^ which a^v nnjiei- hand or bell-elaries, as well as 

 tiioie m fiames. 



'I he early plants in frames vvm ^^w fnew frait plenti- 

 fully,, and iome will be fet and fvveliu.^ . therefore, in 

 order to procure a fuihcient quantity of thoft fruit for a 

 full crop, the plants mull, at this time, have an the 

 aliiftancG that is in the power of art to give them. 



One prir.cipal thing to be obferved i?, to preferve a 

 proper decree of heat in the beds, by occafional linings of 

 hot dung, while the fruit is about fetting, and for fome 

 time after ; for a kindly warmth is neceffary to promote the 

 iWeiling of the fruit after they arc fet ; for it fhould be ob- 

 ferved, that although there be often very warm days in 

 t-his morith, yet there are often cold nights, which make 

 it fo necefiary to preferve a due heat in thefe beds ; for if 

 the weather Ihould prove cold, and at the fame time there 

 is but little v*'armth in the beds, the melons will not fet 

 nor fv/ell kindly, but moft of them will turn yellow and go 

 oiF. Therefore, when it is perceived that the beds have 

 jnuch declined in their heat, immediately apply a lining 

 of well prepared hot dung to one, or to both fides of the 

 bed, according as there may be occafion. 



The advantage of adding the above frelh lining to fuch 

 htdis as are much decayed in their heat, will foon evidently 

 appear in the growth of the plants and fruit. 



Frefh air muH be admitted to the plants every day, 

 when the weather is calm and mild ; for this will (Irengthen 

 them, and promote the fetting and frze fwelling of the 

 fruit. This article of air muft be admitted to the plants, 

 by railing the upper ends of the lights with props, gradu- 

 ally, two, three, or four fingers breadth, in height, ac- 

 cording as the warmnefs-of the day increafes, or requires ; 

 ajidlhut them down clofe again about four or five in the 

 evening, or (oon^r, if the weather fhoul4 change cold or 

 prove windy. 



The 



