280 LATE CROPS OF MELONS 



beginning of June, when the plants have filled 

 the glasses, they must be raised three or four 

 inches upon props, for the vines to run over the 

 bed. 



These crops of melons may consist of any of 

 the varieties; but the common ribbed, oblong 

 ribbed, netted, and the Romana, may be mostly 

 depended on for plentiful crops, the plants being 

 treated in a similar way to the directions given 

 in the paragraph for the early crop. 



The hotbeds for these late crops may either 

 be made in trenches or on the level ground, but 

 those made in April or the beginning of May it 

 will be advisable to make on the level ground, as 

 the heat may decline in three or four weeks ; 

 arid if cold weather should ensue, it may be 

 necessary to line the beds, to revive the heat, and 

 by this plan they may be lined from the bottom. 



The treatment of the surface of the bed to 

 be nearly the same as directed for early forcing, 

 both as to the hills or ridges for planting the 

 plants in, and also as to filling up the remainder 

 of the bed to the level of the hills by degrees ; 

 put the glasses on the hills, and when the earth 



