120 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [Feb. 



heat declines; therefore, when the heat of the bed begins to decrease 

 much, let a lining of the best hot dung be applied in due time to 

 the back or front of the bed, or to both if the heat is very much 

 declined. The dung for this purpose should be prepared in the 

 same manner as that for making the bed. Remember, that if there 

 was a lining of dry litter laid around the sides of the bed, to defend 

 it from wet, &c. as before directed, this must first be removed 

 before you apply the lining; then line the sides of the bed about 

 from twelve to fifteen or eighteen inches wide, according as the 

 heat is less or more declined, which sliould be raised about four or 

 five inches higher than the dung of the bed, to allow for settling: 

 lay some earth on the top of the lining, to keep the rank steam of 

 the fresh dung from coming up that way; which, if it did, would 

 be apt to enter the frame at the place where the lights are raised 

 to admit air, and prove of bad consequence to the plants. 



Of stopping or topping the above Plants. 



The young plants, both cucumbers and melons, should be stopped 

 or topped, if not done before, at the first joint, by pruning oil' the 

 top of the first runner-bud; which is necessary to promote a stocky 

 growth, and cause them to put forth lateral shoots at the first and 

 second joints, to form fruitful runners; and from these, others of 

 the same nature will be produced. 



This operation should be performed when the plants have two 

 rough leaves, and when the second is about an inch broad, having 

 the first runne^bud rising at its base; the sooner this is detached 

 the sooner the plants acquire strength, and put out fruitful runners. 



It is to be done in the following manner: 



You will see arising, in the centre of the plant, at the bottom of 

 the second rough leaf, the end of the first runner, like a small bud; 

 which bud or runner being the advancing top of the plant, is now 

 to be taken off close, and may be done either with the point of a 

 penknife or small scissors, or pinched off carefully with the finger 

 and thumb; but which ever way you take it off, be careful not to go 

 so close as to wound the joint from whence it proceeds. 



Having thus pruned or stopped the plants at the first joint, they 

 will by that means very quickly get strength, as will plainly appear 

 in a few days; and, in about a week, or ten or twelve days alter being 

 thus treated, will each begin to send forth two or three runners: 

 which runners will probably show fruit at their first, second, or 

 third joints; for if the main or first runner was not to be stopped 

 as above, it would perhaps run half a yard or two feel in Length, 

 without putting out more runners to fill the frame, or probably 

 without showing a single fruit; for it is upon these lateral shoots 

 or runners, produced after Stopping the plants, that you may expect 

 fruit to appear in any tolerable time in the season; but let it be also 

 observed, that when the said lateral shoots have three joints, and 

 that if any of them do not then Bhow fruit at either of these, it 

 will be proper to pinch oil" the top of such shoots at the third 

 joint, which will promote their putting forth a supply of two or 



