364 THE FORCING GARDEN. 



preparation of dung for these beds the latter end of 

 February. If it be ready, let them now be built, of 

 dimensions answerable to the size of two or more 

 frames, of two or of three lights each, according to 

 the quantity of fruit required ; keeping the cucum- 

 bers and melons in distinct frames, however, as they 

 require a different mode of treatment, in many par- 

 ticulars. 



The bed for cucumbers may 'be built to the height 

 of about four and a half feet at back, and three 

 and a half in front ; and that for melons half a 

 foot or nine inches higher ; keeping both fully a foot 

 larger than the frame all round ; shaking out, beak* 

 ing, or treading the dung well, that they may settle 

 equally in all parts in heating. This is a matter of 

 particular importance in the building of ridging- 

 beds, for which the dung should also have been care- 

 fully fermented 5 for, if they settle unequally, or 

 fail into holes, the roots of the plants, after they have 

 begun to run, perhaps, will evidently be injured, 

 and may be broken in twain by the rending of the 

 bed. I have noticed this before, and mention it 

 again, in order the better to caution the unwary. 



If the dung have not been well fermented, and 

 if there be reason to dread its heating violently, it 

 will be proper to turf the bed all over, in the same 

 manner as directed for the asparagus bed in Ja- 

 nuary ; previously laying on two or three inches of 

 the smallest and best reduced part of the dung 

 (which for that purpose should be laid aside as it 

 falls out in the operation of building), over which 

 lay as much old bark, or dry sand. But otherwise, 



