cue 



cue 



which will continue a due degree of heat as long 

 as it will be requisite to attend to the stale of 

 the bottom heat in the beds. 



In the early culture of the Cucumber, it is a 

 !Tood prariice never to depend for raising the 

 plants upon the first sowing; but to continue sow- 

 ins; occasiimallv, both in the nursery and fruit- 

 in<r hot-bcd>, in pots, managing the plants in 

 the same way as those in the seed-bed, as by this 

 means plants of diflerent growths will be con- 

 stantly at hand, for the supplying of accidents 

 as well as for succession crops. 



Cidliire under Handor other Glasses. — In this 

 method tlie seed should be sown towards the 

 latter cud of March or beginning of the ft)llow- 

 ing month, on an old hot-bed, having the plants 

 in a proper state for beins; set or ridged out about 

 the beginning of May, which is sufficiently early 

 for thtir sucteading well in this mode of culture. 

 The most proper sort of seed for this purpose 

 is that of the Ltmg prickly green. 



The beds for this purpose should be prepared 

 of hot dung, in the manner directed for the eaily 

 crops ; being made from two to three feet in 

 thickness, and about three in width, along the 

 ground, in a straight line, having the distance of 

 from three to four feet from each other. The 

 most usual method is to form them in \ong 

 trenches, or in holes a foot and half in depth; 

 but they may be made on the level surface where 

 this mode is attempted at an early period. In 

 either method the beds should then be earthed 

 over, raising the mould into little hillocks for 

 the reception of the plants, the hand-glasses 

 being immediately placed over them ; and in the 

 course of a day or two the earth will be in a 

 suitable condition for receiving the plants. 

 These should be put in in the middle of the hills, 

 three or four in each, with balls of earth 

 about their roots, in the same manner as prac- 

 tised in the other crops, a little water being 

 given at the time and the glasses put on, 

 proper shade being had recourse to when ne- 

 cessary. 



Air and water should also be afforded in due 

 proportion, according to the state of the wea- 

 ther and the heat of the beds, keeping the glasses 

 well covered with mats in the nights and~when 

 the season is severe. 



When the heat in these beds begins to de- 

 cline, more earth should be applied between the 

 hills of plants, and some fresh dung externally, 

 by way of linings, to preserve and keep up the 

 heat as much as p.issible when the weather 

 continues cold. And as the warmth of the sea- 

 son advances, air and water should be given 

 more freely. 



When the glasses have become pretty full with 



the plants, they should be raised a little, that the 



nuiners may extend themselves without, and be 

 properly trained and pegged down, continuing 

 to attend them carefully in respect to covering 

 in the nights, air and water, the last being fre- 

 quently applied all over the beds. 



In this mode Cucumbers may be provided 

 from about the latter end of May till the bcgis;- 

 ning of September. 



Culture on Ridges in the open Ground. — For 

 this purpose a warm sheltered situation which is 

 open to the South, and where the soil is good and 

 rich, should be fixed upon, the land being well 

 dug into a trench, and a suitable proportion of 

 dung covered in, the surface being formed into 

 a sort of ridge or bank, sloping towards the 

 South. Sone, however, divide the ground, 

 after being neatly dug over, into beds five or six 

 feet in width, with alleys of a foot or foot and 

 half between them. 



In either method the seed should be put in 

 as soon as the beds are ready ; in the former, 

 towards the back parts, and in the latter aloncr 

 the middle, to the depth of about half an inch, 

 six or seven seeds in a place, an inch or two apart, 

 slight sprinklings of water being occasionally 

 given afterwards. 



The proper season for performing these sow- 

 ings is about the end of May or first part of 

 June, according to the state of the w^eather. 



The principal culture which is necessary du- 

 ring the growth of these crops, is that of keep- 

 ing the vines perfectly free from all sorts of 

 weeds, thinning the plants to proper distances, 

 directing the rimners in a regular manner alono- 

 the surface, and keeping them properly watered 

 according to the state of the season. 



These crops chiefly come inabout the middle of 

 August, and are principally employed as picklers, 

 for which purpose the beds should be carefully 

 looked over two or three times every week, on 

 dry days, and all such collected as are in a pro- 

 per state, as about one or two inches in length, 

 and the thickness of the finger. 



When the weather proves wet, they should be 

 guarded as much as possible from it, as under 

 6uch circumstances they are very apt to become 

 spotted. 



In the saving of Cucumber seed, some of 

 the best and most early of the general frame 

 crops should be reserved till perfectly ripen- 

 ed ; when they must be separated from the 

 vine, and be laid in a proper place to dry ; the 

 seeds being then separated from the pulp, and 

 rendered mure perfectly dry, when they may be 

 put up for use, for which they are, as has been 

 seen, in the inost proper condition alter they 

 have been kept two or three years. 



