THE MELONRY. 367 
watered oucasionally in the warmest part of the day. As 
the heat of the hotbed declines, it is supported by linings 
of fermenting litter, applied from time to time, around its 
outer sides. The lining should not exceed fifteen or 
eighteen inches in thickness, and should rise above the level 
of the bed upon the sides of the frame. 
About a month after the seeds have been sown, hotheds 
or pits are prepared for the reception of the young plants. 
For the first crop, it is generally found that hotbeds are 
preferable. These are formed about three feet and a half 
thick, and of such extent as to receive several frames of 
two or three lights each. The same precautions with re- 
spect to vapor, and other matters connected with the fer- 
mentation, are observed as in the seed-bed. When the 
violencé of the heat has begun to subside, the surface of 
the bed is covered, to the depth of two inches, with dry, 
light earth; and under the centre of each sash a conical 
heap of the same soil is formed to the height of ten inches. 
By the following day, the earth generally acquires a suffi- 
cient warmth, and the bed is ready for the reception of the 
plants. The pots containing the young plants should be 
well watered the day previous to their being ridged out, to 
make the ball adhere together, and come out of the pot en- 
tire. After the tops of the hillocks of earth have been flat- 
tened a little in the centre of each, a hole is made capable 
of containing one of the balls of earth which is to be 
turned out of the pots. Some of the pots containing the 
strongest plants are selected, and the young melon plants 
are plunged out, with balls entire, into the ridges or hil- 
locks already mentioned. After. this operation has been: 
performed, they receive a gentle watering. The sashes are 
replaced, and for some time, unless the vapor be strong, 
little air is given. Care is taken to prevent the tender 
