MAR.] CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 36? 



much insisted on by some, as being necessary to 

 their doing so at all. For my own part, I never 

 could discover any difference, and I have repeat- 

 edly made the comparison in the same bed, which 

 otherwise of course could not be fair. When the 

 vines have grown to the length of four or five joints, 

 and if fruit appear on them, they may be stopped 

 at one joint above the fruit ; but otherwise, they 

 may be allowed to run to the length of seven or 

 eight joints, and may then be stopped, which will 

 generally cause them to push fertile shoots. These 

 should be regularly spread out, and be trained at 

 the distance of eight or ten inches apart. 



By this time the roots will have spread quite 

 over the hills, which must be enlarged, in order to 

 encourage the growth of the plants. Let the earth, 

 therefore, in the other parts of the frame, be stirred 

 up to its full depth with a hand-fork or weeding- 

 iron, breaking it fine, if anywise caked by the heat ; 

 and add fresh mould, sifted or finely broken, and 

 in a dry state, so as to raise the surface nearly to the 

 level of the hills ; laying it in a sloping manner 

 from back to front. Previous to doing this, let the 

 frames be rectified, as above directed, and be so 

 raised as that the glass may be eight or nine inches 

 above the mould in the centre. 



Towards the end of the month, the heat may pro- 

 bably begin to decrease, and it may be proper to 

 line the front, or perhaps the front and ends of the 

 beds. Let this be done in the same manner as di- 

 rected for lining the asparagus bed, and the seed- 

 bed, in February. Also, observe the cautions there 



