422 THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. [Fbb. 
pen-knife or small scissars, or pinched off carefully with the finger 
and thumb; but which ever way you take it off, be careful not to go 
so close as to wound the joint from whence it proceeds. 
Having thus pruned or stopped the plants at the first joint, they 
will by that means very quickly get strength, as will plainly appear 
in a few days; and in about a week, or ten or twelve days after being 
thus treated, will each begin to send forth two or three runners; 
which runners will probably show fruit at their first, second, or 
third joints; for if the main or first runner was not to be stopped 
as above, it would perhaps run half a yard or two feet in length, 
without putting out more runners to fill the frame, or probably 
without showing a single fruit; for it is upon these lateral shoots 
or runners, produced after stopping the plants, that you may expect 
fruit to appear in any tolerable time in the season; but let it be also 
observed, that when the said lateral shoots have three joints, and 
that if any of them do not then show fruit at either of these, it 
will be proper to pinch off the top of such shoots at the third 
joint; which will promote their putting forth a supply of two or 
three new shoots, some or all of which will most likely be fruitful; 
and after this, according as they advance in growth, train the run- 
ners along in regular order, cut out casual very weakly vines, and 
thin others where very irregularly crowded: thus, if the bed is well 
managed, and the plants are forward, those of the cucumbers will 
probably produce proper-sized fruit at the end of this month, or be- 
ginning or middle of the next; but the melons not so soon by six or 
eight weeks. — See next month. 
Of sowing Cucumber and Melon Seed. 
As there may be many persons who did not begin last month to 
sow cucumbers for an early crop, it will here be proper to take no- 
tice, that the beginning, middle, or any time of this month, is still 
a good time to begin that work, making a hot-bed for sowing the 
seed, as directed in January, page 12 and 13. 
Those which are sown early in this month, will, with good ma- 
nagement, produce fruit in the end of March, or beginning of 
April; and those sown in the middle or latter end of the month 
will have fruit at the end of April, and will bear plentifully in May. 
The beginning of this month is a very good time to sow melons 
for a full crop in the frames. 
The seed hot-bed which is to be made now, either for cucumbers 
or melons, must be of the same dimensions; and the seeds sown, 
and plants managed, as directed last month. 
But observe, that to be well supplied with cucumber or melon 
plants, either to plant in new beds, or to have a reserve in case of ac- 
cidents happening to any already planted out, it will be very proper 
to sow some seeds at three different times this month. 
These may be sown in such cucumber hot-beds as are already 
made and in cultivation, and when fit to prick out, plant them in 
small pots, as directed last month, which may be plunged in the back 
part of the same bed, where they may be kept till wanted, either 
for new, or to supply any deficiency in the present beds. 
