314 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [April. 



and agriculture, and merits the serious consideration of every per- 

 son concerned. 



Let it not be understood that I am an advocate for late sowing 

 or planting; I am the reverse, when it can be done under favour- 

 able, circumstances. 



The above remarks are applicable generally to all the other 

 open ground departments, as well as to the Kitchen Garden; but 

 particularly inasmuch as they have relation to the sowing of seeds. 



Care of Cucumbers and Melons, fyc. 



Examine your cucumber and melon beds, and if any have de- 

 clined in heat, especially in the early part of the month, line them 

 with fresh dung, as directed in page 17: this will be necessary, in 

 order to obtain plentiful crops of fruit. 



As the sun is now become very powerful, all kinds of plants 

 which you have in hot-beds, will require abundance of air, and 

 occasional shade, for if the beds were left close shut only for a few 

 hours during the prevalence of a hot mid-day sun, the whole would 

 be scorched to death: therefore you ought never to leave the garden 

 at such times without first raising the "-lasses and giving; shade to 

 the plants if thought necessary. 



Making new Hot-beds for Cucumbers and Melons. 



In order to have successional crops of cucumbers and melons, 

 you may in the early part of this month make new hot-beds, either 

 lor the reception of plants or for sowing the seeds; observing the 

 directions given in the former months, as well for these, as the due 

 attention which fruiting and other plants require. 



Making Hot-bed Ridges for Cucumbers and Melons. 



Make hot-bed ridges about the middle of this month for the 

 cucumber and melon plants raised last month, in order to be plant- 

 ed under hand or bell-glasses. For this purpose make trenches 

 three feet wide and two deep, in a warm dry part of the garden, 

 and fill them to the surface with good fresh horse-dung, as directed 

 in January for other hot-beds, then you may either earth them 

 directly, or in two or three days after when the dung will be settled, 

 and the heat risen to the top of the bed, laying from seven to nine 

 inches thick of light rich earth over every part. 



When this is done and all the surface made smooth, lay on your 

 hand or bell-glasses in the middle of the ridge four feet asunder, 

 and keep them close down till the dung has thoroughly warmed the 

 earth, then proceed to put in the plants. 



You may plant under each glass two strong melon plants, or three 

 cucumbers; observing, if possible, to remove and plant them with 

 balls of earth about their roots. 



As soon as they are planted, let them be moderately watered and 



