2^6 The Kitchen Garden. [Julf. 



But fuch melon plants as grow in common Light earth, 

 and where there i.s withal but a moderate depth upon 

 the beds, will require occafional waterings in very hot 

 dry v/eather, in moderation, not more than once or twice- 

 a week ; cbferving the former mentioned precautions, 

 of lall: month and as jull above hinted in refpedt to 

 watering : both with regard to the plants, and the ftate 

 of growth of the fruit. 



To prot.e6i Melons frotn much Rain. 



The weather foinetimes happens, at this feafon, to be- 

 very wet ; when that. is the cafe, the melon plants Ihould 

 at fucii times,, be occanonally protecled. 



The plants which are in f'-ames can be readily fhelter- 

 ed,. in fucli weather, with the glaffes ; but the plants 

 which were planted out under hand or bell-glaffes are 

 more expofed, and cannot be fo readily Iheltered ; but 

 as thcfe plants nre now full ct fruit, all pofiible means 

 Ihould be ufed to protect them when the weather happ^ns^ 

 at this time to be uncommonly v^et^ 



For the protcAion therefore, of the bell or hand-glafs 

 melons, there is nothing ic proper as the oiled paper- 

 frames, fuch as directed in the former month. 



Thefc frames are to be kept con ilantly over the beds 5: 

 and they not only defend the plants from cold and wet,, 

 but, when the weather happens to be very hot, they^ 

 aifo anfwer the piirpofe vi fcreening the plants from the- 

 too great power of the fun ; and at the fame time admit its 

 inlluencc through the oiled paper, both as to the light 

 and heat, in a proper degree, to promote the growth of 

 the plants ar.d fruit. 



Bat where there ir. not the convenience of fuch frames,, 

 let fome other method be pradlifed, to defend the bell- 

 glafs melons. 



For one thing, let the fruit, or at leafl as many of 

 them as are fv/elled,.or are fwel ling, be covered with the. 

 bell-glafies ; that is, either move the fruit carefully 

 under their own glares, or, where there is any fparc 

 glaffes, let them be brought and placed over the beft fruit. 



The next thing to be praiStifed, for want of better con- 

 veniences, to protect the bell-glafs melons, is this: 



When the weather proves at this time to be very wet or 

 cold, let fome hoops be carried over the ridges or beds,, 

 placing them fixteen or eighteen inches diftant from one 



another f 



