May.] The Kitchen Garden. aoi 



The glaffes mull be covered every jiight with mats all 

 this month. ^ Let the mats be thrown over them, a little, 

 before fan-fet, or foon after in the evening ; but when the 

 air is cold, they may be thrown over about an hour fooner* 



About fix or feven in the morning, let ihe mats be 

 taken off; or when it is a warm funny morning, they may 

 be uncovered as foon as the fun reaches the glaiTes, for the 

 plants Ihould not be kept too long in darknefs, light beings 

 very eiTential to their growth. 



Water fhould alfo he given at times to the melon plants 

 in frames, for they will require a little now and then, pro- 

 vided there be a good heat in the bed, and the weather be. 

 tolerably warm and funny. Let this article be given very 

 moderately, and not too often^ for too much moiflure 

 would chill'the young fruit, and prevent their fetting. 

 Once in a week or ten days will be often enough to water 

 them ; and tlie value of two pots of water to a three-light 

 frame will be fufHcient. 



Choofe always a moderately warm day to w^ater them j 

 and about eight ( r nine in the mornini^, or *.hree or four in 

 the afternoon, are now the b:ft times in the day to do that 

 work. Sliut down the lights immediately after watering; 

 and, if the fun fhines, throw a mat over for half an hour^ 

 then take it off again. Obferve, in watering thefe plants, 

 to let as little as polTible touch the fruit that are about 

 fetting, or newly fet, and do not give too much water 

 near the head, or main ilem of the plant. 



In very hot funny days, it will be advifeable to Ihade the 

 plants from the fun, for tys^o or three iiours, during its 

 £ercelt heat ; but this fhould be particularly praflifed when 

 there is but a fhall-ow depth of earchon the beds, or when 

 the leaves of the plants flag much. Let feme thin mats^ 

 or a little loofe hay, &c. be fpread over the glaffes, in 

 thefe days, about eleven o'clock, and taken off again 

 about two. 



Where the plants lie very near the. glaffes, it will be 

 neceffary toraife the frame from about t]iree to fix inches 5 

 this is done by placing bricks, or fquare pieces of wood, 

 under each corru?r of the frame. 



According as the m.elons fet, obferve to place a piece of 

 tile under each, for this will preferve them f*-om the damp 

 of the e*irth of the bed, 



L5 0/ 



