Flued Pit for Cucumbers and Melons. 27S 



or three times before they are put on the beds. Put a light 

 covering of mould over them to prevent their being blown 

 away by the wind. Apply leaves in the same way every au- 

 tumn, until the mould become as deep as it is wanted above 

 the roots of the plants, increasing the quantity laid on at 

 once according to the strength of your plants. It will be 

 necessary to have the paths covered with long dung or litter, 

 to prevent their being trod too hard for the roots to run in. 

 The paths should never be dug, as is usually done, nor even 

 the beds dug with a prong, which is often done, much to the 

 injury of the crowns. The leaf mould when decayed will be 

 found sufficiently light for the plants to rise through without 

 digging. Any vegetable mould will be found to answer 

 well, particularly the mould of green vegetables. Holes and 

 ditches in and adjoining woods generally abound with de- 

 cayed leaves, which, if mixed with leaves that may be col- 

 lected, or any useless litter, will soon become a large quantity 

 of mould. 



The advantages which asparagus plants derive from this 

 manner of cultivation, are these : The roots run in the paths 

 undisturbed, and near to the surface ; the roots in the beds 

 find their way into the leaf mould, wherein they grow stronger 

 than in the common way, where they are down from one foot 

 to six inches in the natural soil. 



Some may say, who is going to be at all this trouble about 

 growing asparagus? Certainly there is no greater luxury 

 produced for a grower than good asparagus and plenty of it, 

 and I can state from experience, that by the above method 

 of culture, the produce from one bed will be as much as from 

 three or four, and of better quality. Beds made after this 

 way will be as good at twenty years old as they were at six 

 years. 



I remain, Sir, &c 

 December. 24. 1826. J. O. S. P. 



Art. XL Description of a Flued Pit for growing Cucumbers 

 and Melons, or for other Purposes, and of a newly-invented 

 Structure for growing Peaches and Grapes. By Mr. John 

 Haythorn, C. M. H. S., Gardener to the Lord Middleton, 

 at Wollaton Hall, near Nottingham. 



Sir, 

 A gentleman in this neighbourhood having asked me if J 

 could recommend him a plan of a pit for the growth of fruits 



t 4 



