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BIGGLE GARDEN BOOK 



about a month earlier in dirt-bands, in pots, or on 

 inverted pieces of sod (see Chapter III), and raising 

 the plants under glass, or on a small scale in the 

 kitchen window. Then, without disturbing the roots 

 in the least, the plants are moved to hills outdoors 

 the latter part of May when the weather is warm 

 and settled. Or, if only a few hills are wanted, 

 here's another way to force the plants : Sow the 

 seed in permanent hills 

 outdoors early in April 

 (in the North), and cover 

 each hill with a small box 

 of any kind or shape, 

 without a bottom and with 

 a piece of glass laid on 

 for a top (see illustra- 

 tion). Thus you have a 

 cheap, r o u g h, miniature 

 coldframe over each hill, 

 which serves the double 

 purpose of raising extra- 

 early plants, and protect- 

 ing them from insects un- 

 til they get so big that the 

 boxes must be removed. 

 A piece of mosquito-net- 

 ting over the top will keep 

 out bugs whenever the glass is removed for ventila- 

 tion (and ventilation must be closely attended to 

 whenever the weather permits). 



The foregoing general directions apply to all 

 these vine crops. The following are additional and 

 special points about each : 



CUCUMBERS. In large fields cucumbers for 

 pickles are often planted in hills 5x5 feet apart 



A GLASS-COVERED BOX OVER 



EACH HILL HURRIES MELONS, 



ETC. PHOTO TAKEN MAY 



9TH IN NEW JERSEY 



