Jan.] THE KITCHEN GARDEN. i 4 
of the best yellow pine, nine feet two inches long, four feet ten inches 
wide, as high again in the back as in front, to give the top a due 
slope to the sun and a proper declivity to carry off the wet when 
covered with glass lights, to move off and on occasionally; every 
joint ought to be tongued, the better to prevent the admission of 
cold air into, or emission of warm air out of the bed, but in such 
manner as the gardener may think proper. The back and front 
are to be nailed to corner posts, so as to admit the ends to fit in 
neatly, which ends are to be made fast to the posts by iron bolts 
keyed in the inside, for the greater facility of taking the frame 
asunder when necessary; each end must be made one inch and a 
half higher than the back and front, so as that one half its thickness 
may be grooved out on the inside, for the sash to rest and slide on> 
and the other half left for its support on the outside; when finished 
give it two or three good coats of paint before you use it, and with 
a little care and an annual painting, it may last you twenty years. 
These frames will take three lights of three feet wide each, each 
light containing five rows of glass panes, six inches by four, over- 
lapping one another about half an inch, which of all other- 
sizes is the most preferable, on account of their cheapness in the 
first place, the closeness of their lap, their general strength and 
trifling expense of repairs; however, each person will suit his own 
convenience as to the dimensions of glass. Where the sashes when 
laid on the frame meet- a piece of pine about three and a half inches 
broad and near two thick, should run from back to front morticed 
into each, for their support, and for them to slide on; in the centre 
of which, as well as in the ends of the frame, it will be well to make 
a groove, five-eighths of an inch wide and near a quarter of an inch 
deep, rounded at bottom to receive and carry off any wet which may 
work down between the sashes. 
But with respect to particular dimensions of frames, they are dif- 
ferent according to the plants they are intended to protect, but ge- 
nerally from nine to twelve feet long, from four feet eight inches to 
five feet wide, from eighteen inches to three feet six inches high in 
the back, and from nine to eighteen inches in front, being for the 
most part twice as high in the back as in front, if not more. 
The common kitchen garden frames may be of three different 
sizes, that is, for one, two and three lights, the latter of which, how- 
ever, are the most material, and which are employed for general 
use: but it is necessary also to have one and two light frames, the 
former as seedling frames, and the latter as succession or nursery 
frames, to forward the young plants to a due size for the three-light 
frames, in which they are to fruit. 
Early Cucumbers and Melons. 
As it is generally the ambition of most gardeners to excel each 
other in the production of early cucumbers, Stc. all necessary pre- 
parations should be made this month for that purpose, by preparing 
dung for hot-beds, in which to raise the plants; for they, being of a 
tender quality, require the aid of artificial heat under shelter ot" 
