178 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



To prevent, and in a great measure cure, the 

 mildew, if the weather is cold and wet, and the bed 

 too slack of heat, a moderate lining of good hot dung 

 must be applied . and should the mould round the 

 bottom of the hills appear to be too much soddened 

 with moisture, draw away all the earth that can be 

 conveniently removed, with as little injury to the 

 roots as possible, and replace it with fresh ; but this 

 can be only done while the plants are in a young 

 state. 



In reference to what has been alluded to in re- 

 spect of raising the melon on tan, this has been 

 successfully practised by the author and many 

 others in this country, and would be considerably 

 more so, but for the great distance of some tan- 

 yards (the tan should be taken nearly fresh from the 

 pit, not too finely ground), and the expense of car- 

 riage. These obstacles being got over, the quan- 

 tity wanted may be judged of from the length of the 

 pit to be worked ; the tan being two feet or more in 

 thickness, if there be no old to mix with it. The tan 

 being procured, it should be thrown in a heap under 

 cover, to heat and ferment for a week or ten days 

 before using, turning it over twice within that time ; 

 after which it will be found in good order for put- 

 ting in the pit, previously laying at the bottom 

 about a foot of good warm dung (not too short). 

 One third of old tan, not too finely sifted, mixed 

 with the new, will be an improvement, as the roots 

 will most likely penetrate into it 



As soon as it is found that the heat is regularly 

 up (the lights being over it the whole time), the 

 earth should be put in for the hills, so high that 



