Mar.] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



097 



times be well broken, and moderately dry, before it is brought 

 into the beds ; for which purpose, it should be kept in a dry 

 shed, or other sheltered place, to be always in a fit state. 



The melon-plants planted at the same time will not be so for- 

 ward as the cucumbers, but they will now, if every thing has 

 prospered, be in want of additional mould at their roots, and 

 their runners will, as they extend themselves, require to be 

 pegged down in the same manner ; accordingly as the mould is 

 applied to the melon-plants, let it be well trodden or beaten 

 compactly round their roots, and let all appearance of mouldi- 

 ness or damp be removed, by frequently stirring the surface, 

 and displacing any dead or injured leaves. As the flowers are 

 set or impregnated, let a small piece of tile or slate be placed 

 under the rudiment of each fruit, which will greatly prevent 

 their damping off. 



Successional crops of both cucumbers and melons will also 

 now be required to be ridged out from plants raised from 

 seeds sown last month ; accordingly, as such plants appear fit 

 for planting out, let beds be prepared for their reception, as 

 directed last month, and for latter crops, seeds should now 

 again be sown, at least twice during this month. Beds made 

 from this time forthwith, need not be so strong as those al- 

 ready put up ; fi'om three to three feet and a half will be quite 

 sufficient. 



For those who only desire to have cucumbers or melons to 

 cut by the beginning of May, or towards the middle or latter 

 end of that month and the beginning of June, this is a good 

 time to sow the seeds, and the success of those which are 

 sown at this time, may be calculated upon with greater cer- 

 tainty than upon those which are sown much earlier. For 

 general crops for summer use, this is the best time to sow, as 

 those which are sown at this time will continue bearing the 

 greatest part of the summer and autumn months ; the cucum- 

 bers coming in, in June, and the melons in July and August: 

 the only months in which melons can really be had in perfec- 

 tion. Towards the end of the month, seeds of both these 

 fruits may be sown, for the purpose of being ultimately planted 

 out under hand or bell-glasses. The plants from seeds sown at 

 that time will be fit to plant out, where thay are lo remain, by 



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