June.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 405 
come to take them up for housing, the sudden deprivation of their 
usual supply of nourishment would give them such a check as seri- 
ously to injure them; and, besides, they would be but ill rooted in 
the pots, and badly prepared to extract the necessary nourishment 
durins; winter. 
WORK TO BE DONE IN THE KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Early Melons and Cucumbers. 
About the first of this month all your melons and cucumbers 
that have been hitherto under the protection of glasses or paper- 
frames maybe fully exposed to the open air, having been previously 
and gradually inured thereto. A piece of shingle or board should 
be laid under each fruit of the early melons to preserve them from 
the damp of the earth, which would injure their flavour. Occa- 
sional refreshments of water will be necessary, but particularly to 
the cucumbers. 
Your principal or general crops of melons and cucumbers, in the 
open ground, shoukl now be kept totally free from weeds, the 
ground between the plants must be frequently hoed, and the earth 
drawn gently to the stems of the latest sown: the vines should be 
laid oft' in a neat and regular manner, and when any of them are 
too luxuriant, check them by nipping oft" the extremities of the 
runners. 
In the last week of this month sow general crops of cucumbers 
and melons for pickling, which is to be done in the same manner 
as directed in page 368. The long oval musk melon, and the long 
prickly cucumber, are in general estimation for this purpose; but 
the cluster cucumber, on account of its numerous bearing and 
small fruit, is by many preferred. 
Water Melons. 
If not done before, thin your water melons, leaving but three of 
the best plants in each hill, and draw the earth with a hoe up 
around the hills till the stems of the plants are covered up to the 
seed leaves; the ground between them must be kept perfectly free 
from weeds, either by hoeing, or (if cultivated on a large scale,) by 
ploughing and harrowing in the early part of the season. 
