cue 



174 



cue 



"The flow-pipe a is put half its di- 1 Training. — There is no doubt that 

 ameter into the channel c, which when | training near the glass of the frames 

 filled with water, (or so for as is neces- , upon a trellis, makes the cucumber vine 

 sary,) gives off a vapour, exactly pro- more prolific, and more enduring. In- 

 portionable to the heat of the pipe and deed, if trained with proper care, the 



same vine may be made to bear through- 

 out the year. 



Hand Glass Crops. — The first sow- 

 ings for these crops must be in the last 



pit 



" The third requisition is produced 

 by the surrounding atmosphere and heat- 

 ing materials. 



" The fourth is accomplished simply ; two weeks of March ; to be repeated in 

 by lowering the upper sash; the cold the middle of April and May. The seed 

 air thus entering at the top only, falls ' may be inserted in a moderate hot-bed 

 directly into the passage b, and passes ; under hand-glasses, or in the upper side 

 through the hot chamber before coming of one of the frames already in produc- 

 in contact with the plants. In order to tion, either in pots as directed for the 

 test the circulation, I fixed a piece of frame crops, or in the mould of thebed, 

 paper near the front of the pit, and to be pricked into similar situation 

 found the current to be so strong as to when of four or five days' growth, in- 

 bend it backwards and give it a tremu- serting only two plants, however, in 

 lous motion. When the heat in the each pot. They must remain in the 

 chamber is 95=', in the open space over , hotbed until of about a month's growth, 



the bed it is 71^ ; in the bottom of the 

 passage only 60^ ; and in the mould in 

 the bed it is 80=. 



'• The amount of vapour is regulated 

 with the greatest facility, even from the 

 smallest quantity to the greatest den- 

 sity." — Card. Chron. 



Mr. Latter, one of the most success 



or until they have attained four rough 

 leaves ; being then stopped as before 

 directed they are fit for ridging out 

 finally. 



The ridges may be founded on the 

 surface, or in trenches a foot and a half 

 deep, in either case forming them of 

 well prepared hot dung, three or four 



ful of cucumber growers, employs hot i feet wide and two and a half high ; the_ 

 water, and he gives me these leading length being governed by the number of 

 points in his culture. He sows in the , hand-glasses, between each of which 

 first week of September, and the vines three feet and a half must be allowed, 

 from this sowing will be in bearing and The earth is to be laid on eight inches 

 very strong before February. The ; thick ; when this becomes warm the 

 seedlings are first shifted into sixty | plants may be inserted two, or at most 

 sized pots, secondly into twenty-fours, I three, under each glass, 

 and lastly into the largest size. If to be | Watering, airing, covering, &c., must 

 trained on a trellis, the runner must be conducted with the precautions di- 

 not be stopped until it has, trained to a rected to be practised for the frame 

 stick, grown through the trellis. The ' crops. The glasses should be kept on 

 temperature in the pit or frame is kept j as long as possible without detriment to 

 as nearly 65= as possible during the i the plants ; to prolong the time the run- 

 night, and from 75= to 85= during the ners must be made to grow perpendicu- 

 da'y ; air being admitted night and day, ; larly ; and still further to protract their 

 little or much, according to the state ofi continuance, if the season is inclement, 

 the weather. The bottom heat (Mr. I the glasses may be raised on bricks. 

 Latter is the champion of the hot-water When no longer capable of confine- 

 system) is kept as near as can be to 70=, ment, the runners must be pegged down 

 although he finds that 85= does not regularly, advantage being taken of a 

 hurt the plants. He waters them with cool cloudy day to perform it in ; but 

 soft water until February, and then ' the glasses, even now, may be con- 

 employs liquid manure, taking care that ; tinned over the centre of the plants 

 the temperature of the liquid is always | until the close of May or early .Tune, 

 from 75= to 80=. The earth over the \ with considerable advantage. Weeds 

 hot water tank or pipes ought not to be | must be carefully removed. Waterings 

 less than fifteen inches deep. Daring | should be performed as often as appears 

 severe frosts it is an excellent plan to ! necessary. 



keep a small floating light burning with- ! If there be a scarcity of dung in the 

 in the frame every night. I last week in April, or during May, cir- 



