MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. 149 



coal ashes*, about two or three inches thick ; but without any 

 gravel or rubbish below. On these borders you may have early 

 or late crops, according to the aspect ; but by no means plant 

 any deep-rooting plants, such as cabbages, beans, peas, &c. 

 (except early frame peas J, which would be very hurtful to the 

 trees. 



The reasons for allotting part of the outside. slip next the 

 stable for hot-beds for raising melons and cucumbers, are, first, 

 because there will be no litter to carry in within the walls to 

 dirty the walks ; secondly, the beds will not be seen from the 

 garden ; and lastly, the convenience of carrying the dung, by 

 which a great deal of time will be saved in carting and wheel- 

 ing. 



It will be necessary, especially in exposed situations, to 

 enclose the melon ground with either a wall or paling from six 

 to eight feet high. It was formerly a practice to enclose me- 

 lon-grounds with reed fences ; but, although they are tolerably 

 warm, and easily removed from one place to another (be- 

 ing made in separate panels), they are very apt to harbour 

 vermin. 



Melons are best worked in brick pits, coped with stone 

 or oak, about twelve feet wide and two and a half deep : The 

 length should be according to the number of frames that you 

 work. The size of the lights, for early melons, should be 

 five feet long, and three brood ; but for others they will re- 

 quire to be six feet long, and four broad. The former should 

 be four and the latter three light boxes. For the pits, a nine- 

 inch wall will be sufficient ; and if they are intended for a 

 wood coping, the bricklayer must build in some pieces of 

 timber to fasten it to : But where stone can be had at a rea- 

 sonable rate, I would give it the preference, as wood rots very 

 soon. 



There should be a walk between the ridges, about six or 

 seven feet broad, sufficient to admit a cart to carry dung, which 

 will be much more expeditious than wheeling. The walk 

 should be made up as high as the coping, and sloping gently 

 towards each end ; the bottom should be filled up and covered 

 as before directed : This will be easily kept clean ; sO that, 

 after your linings are made up, it may be kept as neat as if it 

 were in a pleasure ground. 



It will be necessary to make a loose drain along the mid- 

 dle of the bottom of the pit, to convey away any wet, and 



* Slugs avoid coal-ash walks, especially when new-laid and rough ; such 

 walks, therefore, may be of service, as they will, in some degree, obstruct 

 the passage of slugs and snails from one quarter to another. 



X 



