ISO OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. SECT.XIV. 



Cucumhers will not do well, if the air in the bed is 

 long confined, or ftagnant : Sun is ncceflary as well as 

 air, but as that we cannot fuinifh, every advantage that 

 is in our power we fhould not fail to make ufe of with 

 care. The plants are to be nurjed, and preferved mo- 

 derately warm, by keeping the pots plunged lefs or 

 jnore in the bed, placing them towards the outfides of 

 the frame when there is a great heat, and more in the 

 middle when it is moderate. 



Keep fome mould round the infide of the frame, 

 ready to earth up the pots to the rim, as the heat de- 

 clines. There mould not be lefs than two, or more 

 than three inches depth of mould, in the intermediate 

 ipaces of the frame : for when the bed is moulded too 

 thick, it keeps down the heat too much, and occahons 

 burning. Young plants fhould be guarded from much 

 fun, if the feafon is advanced, and efpecially when the 

 bed is hot ; Give air in thefe cafes freely. 



Attend to the weather, and if rain, fnow, or wind, 

 is either of them likely to chill the bed much, provide 

 againft it in time, by laying ftraw round ; and if the 

 heat naturally declines much, line, &c. as directed, 

 page 174, in order to recover and keep it up, for the 

 plants will foon be fpoiled, or loft, if the bed gets cold. 

 They are to grow in the pots till their firfi rough leaves 

 are two or three inches broad. When there is only 

 one in a pot, a plant (upon a pinch) may grow-in it till 

 it bloffoms. 



Uie water (foft) but moderately at firft, till the roots 

 get Ipread about the pot, and then wet the lhanks of 

 the plants as little as can be helped, if the feafon is early, 

 or there is little fun. When the roots are got to the 

 bottom of the pot, take care to water to the bottom ; 

 but over-much watering of young plants makes them 

 (ickly. Once a week, at an early feafon, will be fuffi- 

 cient, except the heat is very ilrong in the bed, and the 

 weather very funny ; the water mull bcinafmall.degree 



warm, 



