176 OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. SECT. XIV. 



As to the forcing fruits, peas, ttfparagus, and the 

 rafting of mufbrocms, thefe things are not commonly 

 pra&ifed, and it can hardly be expected in fuch an 

 initiatory bjok as this, to find inilruclions iorail things. 



SECTION XIV. 



OF RAISING CUCUMBERS AND MELONS, 



I. OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. 

 See Cucumber in the next Section. 



GARDENERS ufually provide three crops of cu. 

 cumbers in the feafon, all- of which will be in- 

 debted to hot clung to produce them ; except fometimes 

 indeed, the laft Towing be upon cold ground ; which, 

 in fome favourable fituations, and in fome feaibns,may 

 do for picklers. We begin with the early crop, which 

 is moll valued. 



Make a feed bed of the fize of a one-light frame, (or 

 a two- light were better), from three to four feet thick, 

 and if ambitious of being forward, do it fometime be- 

 tween the firfl and fifteenth of January, though fome 

 gardeners fow about Chrijlmas : But the fooner this 

 \rork is begun, the more hazard there is of tailing, 

 and the more fkill and trouble will be neceflary to 

 manage them fuccefsfully. 



The young gardener is advifed not to attempt this 

 bufinefs till the middle of February ; and then, if he has 

 good fortune, he will cut fruit about the middle of: 

 May. When he has attained fome (kill in the work, 

 he may begin fooner; for there is nothing that pro- 

 fefled gardeners are fo fond of exhibiting, as early 

 cucumbers, which is a proof, that no little ingenuity 



and 



