70 
A KITCHEN GAKDEN 
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will then cover the ground to better advantage. 
When the line is set, a hole should be scraped with 
the hoe or shovel where the hill is to stand; this 
should be six inches deep and about twelve inches 
in diameter. Compost is then shoveled in, two rows 
being done at once; two or three shovelsful are put 
in each hill. The dirt thrown out in making the 
hole is then carefully made into a hill over the com¬ 
post by using a sharp steel rake, care being taken to 
remove all stones and hard lumps of dirt. The seed 
is then scattered on the top of the hill, generally from 
twenty to thirty seeds being planted in each hill, 
that there may be an ample supply for the insects 
and yet leave a good stand. They should be thinned 
out gradually, extra ones being left in until they are 
at least a foot in length, as the insect pests are both 
numerous and destructive. 
The hills should not be made until it is time to 
plant the seed, or they will get packed and too hard 
for the young roots to penetrate. When the seed has 
been planted on the hill it should be covered with 
about half an inch of fine soil, sifted and crumbled 
on with the fingers, and the whole top patted down 
with the palm of the hand. The seed should be 
planted as soon as the ground is thoroughly warm 
in the spring and when the temperature does not 
fall below sixty degrees at night. The melons will 
commence ripening about August 1st, and two rows 
across the garden should yield from one half-bushel 
to one bushel daily if the variety planted is of the 
small Netted Gem or Jenny Lind type. These small, 
round melons, of the size of a croquet ball, are very 
