314 THE KITCHEN GARDEN. [April 
and agriculture, and merits the serious consideration of every per- 
son concerned. 
Let it not be understood that I am an advocate for late sowing 
or planting; I am the reverse, when it can be done under favour- 
able circumstances. 
The above remarks are applicable generally to all the other 
open ground departments, as well as to the Kitchen Garden.', but 
particularly inasmuch as they have relation to the sowing of seeds. 
Care of Cucumbers and Melons, fyc. 
Examine your cucumber and melon beds, and if any have de- 
clined in heat, especially in the early part of the month, line them 
with fresh dung, as directed in page 17": this will be necessary, in 
order to obtain plentiful crops of fruit. 
As the sun is now become very powerful, all kinds of plants 
which you have in hot-beds, will require abundance of air, and 
occasional shade, for if the beds were left close shut only for a few 
hours during the prevalence of a hot mid-day sun, the whole would 
be scorched to death: therefore you ought never to leave the garden 
at such times without first raising the glasses and giving, shade to 
the plants if thought necessary. 
Making new Hot-beds for Cucumbers and Melons. 
In order to have successional crops of cucumbers and melons, 
you may in the early part of this month make new hot-beds, either 
for the reception of plants or for sowing the seeds; observing the 
directions given in the former months, as well for these, as the due 
attention which fruiting and other plants require. 
Making Hot-bed Ridges for Cucumbers and Melons. 
Make hot-bed ridges about the middle of this month for the 
cucumber and melon plants raised last month, in order to be plant- 
ed under hand or bell-glasses. For this purpose make trenches 
three feet wide and two deep, in a warm dry part of the garden, 
and fill them to the surface with good fresh horse-dung, as directed 
in January for other hot-beds, then you may either earth them 
directly, or in two or three days after when the dung will be settled, 
and the heat risen to the top of the bed, laying from seven to nine 
inches thick of light rich earth over every part. 
When this is done and all the surface made smooth, lay on your 
hand or bell-glasses in the middle of the ridge four feet asunder, 
and keep them close down till the dung has thoroughly warmed the 
earth, then proceed to put in the plants. 
You may plant under each glass two strong melon plants, or three 
cucumbers; observing, if possible, to remove and plant them with 
balls of earth about their roots. 
As soon as they are planted, let them be moderately watered and 
