THE MELONRY. 385 



sowings at short intervals, so that, if any accident be- 

 fall the first plants, the others may supply their place. 

 Two or three days after the plants have come up, they 

 are transplanted into other small pots, only two or 

 three being put into each pot. If the earth be very 

 dry, it is now moistened with a little slightly tepid 

 water. The pots are then plunged into the earth, and 

 much care and watchfulness are employed to prevent 

 the roots from being scorched. When the transplanted 

 seedlings begin to grow, they' are watered occasionally 

 in the warmest part of the day. As the heat of the 

 hotbed declines, it is supported by linings of fermenting 

 litter, applied from time to time, around its outer sides. 

 The lining should not exceed fifteen or eighteen inches 

 in thickness, and should rise above the level of the bed 

 upon the sides of the frame. 



About a month after the seeds have been sown, hot- 

 beds or pits are prepared for the reception of the young 

 plants. For the first crop, it is, generally found that 

 hotbeds are preferable. These are formed about three 

 feet and a half thick, and of such extent as to receive 

 several frames of two or three lights each. The same 

 precautions with respect to vapor, and other matters 

 connected with the fermentation, are observed as in the 

 seed-bed. When the- violence of the heat has begun to 

 subside, the surface of the bed is covered, to the depth 

 of two. inches, with dry, light earth; and under the 

 centre of each sash a conical heap of- the same soil" is 

 formed to the height of ten inches. By the following 

 day, the earth generally acquires a sufficient warmth, 

 and. the bed is ready for the reception of the plants. 

 The pots containing the young plants should be well 

 watered the day previous to their being ridged out, to 



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