OP A GARDEN. 295 



The reason for allotting part of the outside slip 

 next the stable for hot-beds for raising Melons and 

 Cucumbers, are, first, because there will be no 

 litter to carry in within the walls to dirty the 

 walks ; secondly, the beds will not be seen from the 

 garden ; and, lastly, the convenience of carrying 

 the dung, by which a great deal of time will be 

 saved in carting and wheeling. 



It will be necessary, especially in exposed situ- 

 ations, to enclose the Melon-ground with either a 

 wall or paling from six to eight feet high. It was 

 formerly a practice to enclose Melon-grounds with 

 reed fences ; but, although they are tolerably warm, 

 and easily removed from one place to another 

 (being made in separate pannels), they are very 

 apt to harbour vermin. 



Melons are best worked in brick-pits, coped with 

 stone or oak, about twelve feet wide and two and 

 a half deep: the length should be according to the 

 number of frames that you work. The size of the 

 lights, for early Melons, should be five feet long, 

 and three broad : but for others they will require 

 to be six feet long and four broad. The former 

 should be four and the latter three light boxes. 

 For the pits, a nine-inch wall will be sufficient ; 

 and if they are intended for a wood-coping, the 

 bricklayer must build in some pieces of timber 

 to fasten it to: but where stone can be had at a 

 reasonable rate, I would give it the preference, as 

 wood rots very soon. 



u 4 



