750 



THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. 



[July. 



circulation of hot water, which pipes will take up but little 

 space, the diameter of five or six inches being sufficient; 

 and as the first course of pipes will be placed perpendicu- 

 larly to the lower or returning pipe, less room will be occu- 

 pied than by using flues of the smallest dimensions. About 

 the middle or end of this montii, those plants which are in- 

 tended for such late crops may be planted out. It is not, 

 however, to be expected that fruits, especially melons, which 

 require all the sunshine we have in the hottest months to bring 

 them to perfection, will cither be fine or high-flavored, ripen- 

 ing so late in the season. Plants for tJiis puii)ose should be 

 raised fiom seeds sown the latter end of last month, or even 

 the beginning of the present, in any other melon-pits or fi"ames 

 in use. The process of sowing, rearing, and finally planting 

 out being the same as has been directed for melons for more 

 early crops, with this diflbrcnce, that they can be more de- 

 pended upon, and as few accidents will attend them, ve need 

 not again enter upon that head. The pit is to be filled with 

 well-fermented dung, if considerably exhausted the better, as 

 a mild heat only is required ; or, if composed of dung and 

 half-decayed leaves, or tanners' bark, it will give a more last- 

 ing and mild heat. This being prepared, and the plants 

 planted out about the third week in the month ; the bed may 

 be earthed all over at once, or an addition made to it, as oc- 

 casion may require. The general management of them from 

 this time till September, when they will be again noticed, will 

 not differ from that of the plants now in their respective stages 

 of gi'owth, either in pits, frames, or under glasses, &c. 



For this crop, it is necessary to select sorts of the earliest 

 description ; the rule holding almost always good, that those 

 which are the Dcst suited for early crops, ai'e also the fittest 

 for late ones. 



