286 GROWING MELONS BY 



by the bark is exceedingly well adapted to the 

 nature of melons. 



The beds for this purpose must be made in a 

 pit; or in a case, which may be made of post and 

 planking, for the bark being of a loose nature, 

 cannot be so conveniently formed into a bed 

 without ; the best plan is to make them of bricks 

 and mortar, sunk about one-third in the ground, 

 being in the clear in depth about three feet in 

 front, by four behind, the width, that of a large 

 garden frame, to place on the top, or a frame 

 work made for the glasses, fitted to, and fixed 

 on the pit ; in the latter case, the pit may be 

 sunk deeper, but in all cases melons ought to 

 have about a foot of earth in depth, placed on 

 the top of the hotbed. 



Where a pit can be constructed with hot 

 water pipes, or fire-flues internally, it will be of 

 great advantage, by rendering moderate assist- 

 ance in severe weather, particularly after the 

 heat of the bed has considerably declined, but 

 such is not of so much importance except for 

 very early forcing; but for commencing in Feb- 

 ruary or early in March, it will be requisite that 



