Hg THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [Feb. 



around the bottom ol" the hills if it burns, and supplying the places 

 with more fresh mould. 



As soon as the bed is earthed as above, put on the glasses, and 

 by the next day the hillocks of earth will be warm; if they are, level 

 the top of each a little, so that they may be about eight or nine 

 inches deep; then proceed to put in the plants, the cucumbers, and 

 melons separately, in different hot-beds or distinct frames, &c. 



Previous to this observe, that as having last month directed the 

 plants to be pricked into small pots, three in each separately, and 

 as they are now to be turned out of these pots with the balls of 

 earth entire, and planted, one pot of plants in each of the above hills, 

 1 would intimate, in this final transplanting, that two of the best 

 cucumber plants and only one melon, would be sufficient to re- 

 main, cutting the others away as soon after planting as you are 

 able to distinguish which are most likely to do well; however, it is 

 adviseable, previously to transplanting, that, in order to have the 

 whole ball of earth adhere closely about the roots, to give the pots 

 some water the day before; and the method of planting is this: 

 having some pots of the strongest plants ready, place your hand on 

 the surface of the pot, taking the stems of the plants carefully be- 

 tween your fingers, then turn the mouth of the pot downwards, 

 and strike the edge gently on the frame, the plants with the ball 

 of earth to their roots will come out entire; then making a hole in 

 the middle of each hill of earth, place one pot of plants with the 

 ball entire in each hole, closing the earth well around it, and about 

 an inch over the top, bringing the earth close around the stems 

 of the plants; this done, shut down all the lights close for the pre- 

 sent, till the steam rises again strong, then they must be tilted a 

 little behind, in proportion, to give it vent. 



The plants being ridged out finally into the beds where they are 

 to remain for fruiting, you must be careful to give them fresh air 

 every day, by raising the glasses a little for its admission, and for 

 the great steam to pass oft"; and it is necessary to cover the lights 

 every night with mats, putting them on about half an hour before 

 the time of sun-setting, or a little earlier or later as the weather 

 happens to be either mild or severe, and uncover them in the morn- 

 ing as soon after the sun begins to shine on them, or after sun-rising, 

 as the state of the weather will permit: in covering up, observe, 

 that while the bed is very hot, and the. steam copiously rising, 

 never to let the ends of the mats hang down over the dung outside 

 of the frame, which would draw up a hurtful steam, and stifle the 

 plants. 



Air must be admitted to them every day when the weather is 

 any way favourable, by raising the upper ends of the glasses from 

 about half an inch to an inch or two, or in proportion to the sharp- 

 ness or mildness of the outward air and internal heat and steam of 

 the bed. 



In giving the plants air, it is a good method at this season, espe- 

 cially in severe cutting weather, to fasten a mat across the ends of 

 the lights where tilted, to hang down detachedly over the place 

 where the air enters the frame; the mat will break the wind and 



