April.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 313 
The great art of improving sandy and clay soils; is, to give to the 
former, such dressings of clay, cow-dung, and other kinds of ma- 
nure, as will have a tendency to bind and make it more compact, 
and consequently more retentive of moisture; and to the latter, 
coats of sandy earth, pond-mud, horse-dung, and such other com- 
posts as may tend to separate its particles and open its pores, there- 
by easily to discharge any superabundance of moisture, and cause 
it to approach, as near as possible, to a loam; which may be greatly 
assisted by summer and winter fallowing; for the winter frost, and 
summer heat, being the plough and spade of nature, have a power 
to separate the particles of earth, by the expansion of the particles 
of water, lodged between, and in contact with them, more effectually 
than the ploughs and spades made by the hand of man; but when 
art and nature act in co-operation, the business is more speedily 
accomplished. This is the foundation stone, of horticulture and 
agriculture, and merits the serious consideration of every person 
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 Kite hen- Gar den; but 
particularly, in as much as they have relation to the sowing of 
seeds. 
Care of Cucumbers and Melons, 8[c. 
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 oc- 
casional 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 cu- 
cumber and melon plants raised last month, in order to be planted 
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