132 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



the plant is about two feet in height, I then stop it ; this causes 

 laterals to push out at every joint with fruit on each ; these should 

 be stopped one joint before the fruit ; as the fruit swells it may be 

 allowed to hang down over the pot, or be tied up to the stick. I 

 find this is the most convenient plan of training, as when the plants 

 come well into bearing they can be taken down and placed on the 

 kerb or back wall of the pine-pit, where they continue to grow and 

 bear quite well, and another lot of younger plants can then be put 

 upon the shelf for succession ; by this way of management I find no 

 difficulty in having a continual supply of cucumbers all through the 

 winter and spring, and although I have capital hot water pits, I find 

 it saves me a great deal of trouble to grow the early crops in pots. 

 I very seldom admit air in winter, allowing the thermometer to 

 range from 55° to 90°, as it happens to be sunny or cloudy weather. 

 Melons may be grown exactly in the same way, and in pots of the 

 same size (fifteen inch), only using nothing but pure strong loam to 

 grow them in. 



I have just now a crop in pots (the Beechwood), swelling beau- 

 tifully. I allow only two fruit to each pot, and one plant for the 

 same, giving liquid mauure freely when the fruit is swelling ; it will 

 thus be seen how this part of the house may be turned to account, 

 where in nine cases out of ten, it is to be seen empty and, of course, 

 useless. If it happens I am short of young cucumber plants, I turn 

 out the old plants that have borne a crop, reduce the ball, and repot 

 them, coiling the old stems down, and leaving a young shoot just 

 above the soil. An old plant managed in this way will grow and 

 bear quite as well as young plants. 



A few ash-leaf kidney potatoes may also, in October, be potted 

 (nine inch pots), and placed on the shelves ; and, by continuing to 

 pot a few every three weeks, will keep up a succession. 



French beans may also be started in November, strawberries in 

 February on the front shelf, and melons may also now be sown to 

 take the place of the cucumbers, if there should be any convenience 

 for growing the latter out of doors ; in March the vines will require 

 to be brought into the house, when the temperature must be lowered 

 for a few weeks ; yet if the cucumbers, etc., are kept free from 

 insects, and are in good health, they will scarcely feel the change. 

 In the management of a hothouse there is one thing to be most 

 particularly borne in remembrance, viz., never to crowd plants — 

 always leave plenty of room for everything to grow and thrive ; 

 better to have a " little and often," than a great deal and then none. 

 If I may presume to give advice to amateurs on another point, I 

 would just observe, that the quickest and most economical, as well as 

 the most complete knowledge to be acquired how to manage, as well 

 as to build a hothouse, is to consult an experienced practical gardener ; 

 to trust neither to his own judgment nor that of any other person 

 inexperienced in practical horticulture, but to take the advice of a 

 clever gardener, both in building and management, and to abide by 

 it; by so doing he will not only save himself trouble and expense, 

 but will gain more experience in six months than he will do by books 

 in six years. 



