June.] the kitchen garden. 405 



come to take them up for housing, the sudden deprivation of their 

 usual supply of nourishment would give them such a check, as seri- 

 ously to injure them; and, besides, they would be but ill rooted in 

 the pots, and badly prepared to extract the necessary nourishment 

 during winter. 



3um. 



WORK TO BE DONE IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 



Early Melons and Cucumbers. 



About the first of this month all your melons and cucumbers 

 that have been hitherto under the protection of glasses or paper- 

 frames may be fully exposed to the open air, having been previously 

 and gradually inured thereto. A piece of shingle or board should 

 be laid under each fruit of the early melons to preserve them from 

 the damp of the earth, which would injure their flavour. Occa- 

 sional refreshments of water will be necessary, but particularly to 

 the cucumbers. 



Your principal or general crops of melons and cucumbers, in the 

 open ground, should now be kept totally free from weeds, the 

 ground between the plants must be frequently hoed, and the earth 

 drawn gently to the stems of the latest sown: the vines should be 

 laid oft" in a neat and regular manner, and when any of them are 

 too luxuriant, check them by nipping off" the extremities of the 

 runners. 



In the last week of this month sow general crops of cucumbers 

 and melons for pickling, which is to be done in the same manner 

 as directed in page 368. The long oval nnisk melon, and the long 

 prickly cucumber, are in general estimation for this purpose; but 

 the cluster cucumber, on account of its numerous bearing and 

 small fruit, is by many preferred. 



JVater Melons. 



If not done before, thin your water melons, leaving but three of 

 the best plants in each hill, and draw the earth with a hoe up 

 around the hills till the stems of the plants are covered up to (he 

 seed leaves; the ground between thera must be kepi perfectly free 

 from weeds, cither by hoeing, or (if cultivated on a large scale,) by 

 ploughing and harrowing in the early part of the season. 



