20 
building a bed.” When the heat decreases, Nicol cuts away the 
old dung perpendicularly by the frame, and adds new linings, 
(generally beginning with the back first,) 2 feet broad to the 
height of 6 inches about the bottom of the bed frame. As it 
will sink considerably in heating, he adds to it in a few days. 
Mills applies linings of hot dung prepared a month previously. 
Covering.—This must be nightly performed till June, pro- 
portioning the warmth of the cover to the heat of the air in the 
bed, and that of the external air. Mats are laid next the glass; 
on these a layer of hay, and over these mats, made fast by boards, 
but not hanging over the linings, is the usual mode, early in 
the season. M‘Phail says, “ My method of covering up was 
as follows: in the first place I laid clean single mats on the light 
in length and breadth, just or nearly to cover the sashes, taking 
care not to suffer any part of the mats to hang over the sashes, 
on or above the linings, for that would be the means of draw- 
ing the steam into the frames in the night time. On these mats 
was spread equally a covering of soft hay, and on the hay was 
laid another covering of single mats, upon which were laid two, or 
sometimes three or four rows of boards, to prevent the covering 
from being blown off by the wind. The mats laid on next to 
the glass are merely to keep the seeds and dust, which may hap- 
pen to be in the hay, from getting into the frames among the 
plants. Ifthe bed be high, in covering up steps or short lad- 
ders must be used by those whose office it is to cover and un- 
cover; and great care must be taken not to break or injure the 
glass.” 
Air.—Abercrombie directs to “admit air every day when 
the weather is moderate, without much wind; and always more 
freely on sunny days, than when cloudy or cold and frosty. 
Open the lights behind, only a little at first, sooner or later in 
the day, according to the temperature of the season ; increasing 
the opening from about half an inch to 1, 2, or 3 inches, or very 
little more (decrease the opening occasionally, if the weather in 
the early part of the season changes very cold); and shut close 
in the same gradual order towards afternoon, generally shutting 
close in the evening, unless in the early state of the bed, a 
considerable heat and steam continues. In this case you may 
occasionally leave open about half an inch, hanging the end of 
the mat before each opening.” M*‘Phail says, ‘ A cucumber 
plant delights in a strong heat, and in sweet wholesome air; but 
if the air in which it grows be contaminated, unhealthy, or im- 
pure, the plant will not continue long in a healthy flourishing 
condition. Whatever is disagreeable to the smell becomes in 
time hurtful to the cucumber plant ; therefore whoever would 
wish to know if the air in a cucumber frame be in a healthy 
nature for the plants, should smell to it.” He adds, in giving 
and taking away the air, do it gradually, that is, by little and 
little at a time, which without doubt is the best way: for sudden 
changes are always attended with unpleasant consequences. A 
due proportion and continual supply of fresh air is at all times 
necessary, and more or less is required according to the heat of 
the linings, the temperature of the weather, and the thickness of 
the coverings put on at nights. Gard. rememb. p. 42. Nicol 
admits air regularly in as large portions as the state of the 
weather will allow, being careful to let off rank steam, if it 
abound, by leaving a tilt, even in the night. Mills says, “ My 
usual time of giving fresh air to the frames, and permitting the 
foul to escape, in the winter months, (that is, from the middle of 
November to the middle of February,) is as follows: between 8 
and 9 in the morning I raise the lights, and let the confined air 
pass off, shutting them again; about 10 I give a little air; at 11 
more ; at one I lower the lights a little, and between 3 and 4 I 
close them entirely. About two hours after the covering of 
hay has been put on, I give a little air for the night. Should the 
weather be changeable, the lights must be raised or lowered 
C UCURBITACEZ. 
IV. Cucumis. 
more or less, as circumstances may require ; but some air about 
the times of the day above mentioned is absolutely necessary to 
keep the plants in a free growing state.” 
Water.—“ Give necessary waterings with water warmed to the 
air of the bed, mostly in the forenoon of a mild day, in early 
forcing ; and in the morning or afternoon in the advanced season 
of hot sunny weather.”—Abercrombie. M‘Phail says, “The 
quantity of water requisite to be given to the plants #epends 
upon the heat of the bed, the strength and age of the plants, and 
also on the temperature of the weather. When the weather is 
cold, wet, and gloomy, and the air moist, they require less water 
than when the weather is clear, and the air more dry. If too 
much water be given, or if water be given too often, it will hin- 
der the fruit from setting and swelling kindly ; and if too little 
water be given, the plants will grow weak, and the fruit hollow. 
I seldom watered the plants with water warmer than 85°, nor 
colder than 65° ; although in general I tried by the thermometer 
the warmth of the water I used, yet it is not necessary so to do. 
A good way to know if the water be of a proper temperature is 
to take a mouthful of it, and when it feels neither hot nor cold, 
then it is in a fit state for accelerating the growth of the plants, 
or for making them grow fast. I made a constant rule never to 
water the plants but with clean sweet water; and if the water be 
clean and sweet, I am of opinion it makes little or no difference 
whether it be pump water, spring water, rain water, or river 
water. However, it is a good quality in water to bear soap, and 
make a lather therewith, which rain and river water readily do; 
but the pump and spring waters are found too hard to do it, yet 
this may easily be remedied in them, by letting them stand a 
few days in the open air, and sun’s rays. With regard to the 
time of the day in which the watering ought to be performed, I 
think it is not material, nor did I ever make any rule with re- 
spect to the time, but gave them water at any hour of the day, 
when I saw they stood in need of it, and when it best suited my 
conveniency. ‘Those who have hot-houses may get their water 
warmed there, and those who have no hot-houses may get some 
from the house, or from some other place where water is fre- 
quently heated. One gallon of hot water will properly water 
several gallons of cold water.” Tate says “in spring and in the 
summer months the water may be warmed by exposure to the rays 
of the sun.” Nicol airs his water *“ by some means or other ; 
waters once in two or three days after planting, and liberally from 
the rose of the watering pot as the plants advance. The time 
chosen is the afternoon about 4 or 5 o’clock, in order not to 
scorch the plants, which, he says, often happens, when, after 
morning waterings, the sun’s rays suddenly dart on the plants. 
Kal. p. 366—385. J. Mearns, already mentioned, uses water 
impregnated with sheep’s dung, as does Mr. Knight. Mearns 
tried this water first “ on some cucumber plants in the pine 
stove, which had been planted in January, but which in conse- 
quence of dull weather had become weak, and of a pale green 
colour; he applied the liquor to the roots, and in a few days 4 
great change in the appearance of the plants was produced ; the 
foliage assumed a hardy green, the shoots acquired an unusual 
degree of strength, with short joints, and although the stove had 
scarcely any air given to it, yet the fruit swelled rapidly, and 
attained a large size.” These plants continued in bearing till 
May, and were then cut back to within 6 inches of the root, 
when they started again with vigour. ‘No water was ever 
given over the leaves, but a continued supply of the liquid 
pigeon-dung manure to the roots.” Mearn. ex Loud. ency- 
Gard. p. 635. For Mills’s practice as to watering see his pro- 
cess under temperature. 
Earthing.—* Observe,” says Abercrombie, “ in proper time 
when the first heat of the bed is moderate, to begin adding more 
earth between the hills, as the extending roots require to be 
