472 Tramaciions of the London Horticultural Society. 



twelve hours; the evening will be found the best time, so that the house can 

 remain closed and covered witii doable mats all night. I have found by re- 

 peated trials that the plan thus described answers better than any I have ever 

 used or lieard of." 



32. Uj)on the economical Use of Melon Frames. By T. A. Knight, Esq., 

 F.R.S., Pres. Read June 6. 1837. 



" It appears, at first view, a singular circumstance, that the gardens of 

 England are least productive of good vegetables just at that season of the 

 year when light is most abundant, and the weather generally most favourable 

 to vegetation. In the month, of June the season of asparagus expires ; the 

 potatoes of the past year are greatly deteriorated in quality ; the flesh of the 

 turnip, if that plant be grown, is hard and fibrous ; and the taste of the cab- 

 bage becomes comparatively strong and unpalatable ; whilst neither pea nor 

 bean, nor early potato, nor other vegetable of much value can be brought to 

 table, unless in very favourable situations, or raised under glass, and with the 

 aid of artificial heat. Under these circumstances, I have thought that an ac- 

 count of a method of cultivating the turnip, by which that vegetable may be 

 obtained in a very high state of perfection in the month of May and June, 

 worth communicating; particularly as the mode of culture requires but little 

 trouble and expense, and no new machinery. 



" I caused a hotbed to be made of oak leaves in the middle of Februar}', 

 and when it had become warm in the end of that month, it was covered with 

 fresh loam, manured with the ashes of burned weeds, to the depth of 8 in. 

 In this, turnips were planted, as soon as the young plants had just unfolded 

 their seed leaves, and for some time treated nearly as tender annual plants are 

 usually treated : but in repeating the experiment, I should sow the seeds in 

 the hotbed. 



" Plants of any of the varieties of dwarfish early turnip may be placed 

 with advantage in rows of 14 in. distance, and with intervals of 4 in. only 

 between the plants in the rows. I raised at the same time an equal number of 

 plants, in small pots of 4 in. external diameter, and 5 in. deep, to be placetl 

 between the rows above mentioned, and to be planted out in the open 

 ground in the first week of April. At that period the frames and lights 

 were removed, the plants having been gradually exposed to the open air and 

 light, and another hotbed of similar form and size having been prepared, the 

 frames and lights were put upon it. Potatoes were planted in it, which had 

 previously been made to germinate. These remained under glass till the 20tli 

 of May, when they had acquired a large size ; and they are now as mature as 

 potatoes usually are, in favourable seasons, in the beginning of Jul}'. Upon 

 the 20th of May, the frame was removed to another hotbed, in which I had 

 intended to put melon plants of a month old ; but owing to some seeds which 

 I had sowed not having germinated, I have been obliged to use younger plants ; 

 and my melons consequently, which would have ripened early in July, will 

 probably not ripen till near the end of that month. 



" The turnips which remained permanently in the hotbed became fit for 

 use in the middle of May, and have all been consumed, having proved very 

 excellent, for any season : and those which were planted in the pots above 

 mentioned, and removed to the open ground, are now fit for use. Some of 

 these might probably have been placed with advantage under the shade of a 

 north wall, but it did not occur to me to try the experiment. The mould 

 in which all the plants above mentioned grew, and particularly that of the 

 hotbed, was permanently kept very moist, with, I have reason to believe, very 

 beneficial effects. A thin lining of hay, presenting the appearance of the com- 

 mencement of a bird's nest, was put into each of the pots, as is always done 

 in my garden with all plants which are to be repotted or moved within a short 

 time. Amongst this substance the fibrous roots of the plants interweavs 



