FEB.] CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 349 



ever, to forward or protract the growth of the one 

 part, or of the other, the pit may be divided in 

 a temporary way, by fitting a board neatly under 

 the middle rafter. By this means, one-half may be 

 kept cooler or hotter than the other, by matting 

 or not matting, or by the admission of more or less 

 air, &c. 



In filling the first end of the pit a second time, 

 if bark be used, it will not be necessary to add fresh 

 materials ; as trenching over the bed will be found 

 to answer the purpose, even a third time. And in 

 using dung, the stirring up of the old, and adding 

 as much new as will raise the bed to a proper height, 

 finishing with the smallest and best fermented part, 

 will generally be sufficient for a second filling. For 

 a third filling, one-half new dung may be neces- 

 sary, which, however, should be moderately fer- 

 mented, and be kept well down. 



Of forcing Cttcumbew and Melons. 



When the seedling cucumbers and melons, (sown 

 as directed last month,) are about an inch and a 

 half high, they are then fit to be pricked out into 

 nursing pots. These pots should be about three 

 and a half or four inches diameter at top, and as 

 much in depth. The mould to be used should be 

 the same as that the seeds were sown in, and should 

 be laid in the frame a few hours previous to pot- 

 ting, in order to bring it to a proper degree of 

 warmth, that the tender fibrils be not chilled by it. 



Let the pots be filled about one-half with the 

 earth ; turn the plants carefully out of the seed- 



