a6o The Kitchen Garden, [June, 



this, take care to give but very little water near the main 

 Hem or head of the plants. 



But in beds where there is twelve or fifteen inches 

 thick of good loamy earth, the melon plants will require 

 but moderate fupplies of water, once in a week or fort- 

 night, as you Ihall fee occaiion ; keeping the earth but 

 very moderately moill, efpecially while the plants are 

 about fetting the general crop of fruit, as too much hu- 

 midity would prevent its fetting, making them turn yel- 

 low and go off; but when a fufficient fupply is fet, and 

 advanced a little in growth, may water more freely ; 

 never, however, confiderably, as much moiilure proves 

 alfo hurtful to the roots and main ftem of the plants, 

 being apt to make them rot and decay. 



Continue to cover the glafies every night with mats, 

 till about the middle of the month ; for of late years the 

 weather has feldom been fettled fooner than that time. 



Bell-glafs Melons. 



The melon plants which are growing under bell or 

 hand-glafies, fhould now have full liberty to run out. 



Let each glafs be raifed and fupported upon three props, 

 about two or three inches high, and lay the vines out care- 

 fully, and in a regular manner. 



Continue to cover them every night with mats, till 

 about the middle, or towards the latter end of this 

 month J and then, if warm fettled weather, the covering 

 may be entirely laid afide, except the weather Ihould prove 

 very wet ; in which cafe, the coverings may be ufed occa- 

 fionally. 



There is nothing more prejudicial to thefe plants than 

 too much wet, for this would not only chill the young 

 fruit, and prevent its fetting and fwelling, but would alfo 

 perifli many of the roots of the plants. 



Therefore, when the weather at any time happens to 

 be very rainy, it will be proper to defend thefe plants 

 as much as poiHble from it ; and this mull be done by a 

 covering of good thick mats, or canvafs, fupported upon 

 hoop arches fixed acrofs the bed. 



Paper Frames for Melons. 



Where it is intended to cover any of the melon ridges 

 with oiled paper frames, it ihould be done in the firil or 

 fecond week of this month. 



' This 



