SECT. XIV. OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. 181 



warm, and given in the morning towards the middle of 

 the day. Shut them clofe for half an hour. 



If the feed bed is not likely to hold the plants fo long 

 as directed, (or nearly) in a free growing itate, an inter- 

 mediate bed fhould be made in time to receive them; 

 for it is BOt proper to plant them out into the fruit bed 

 too foon, left there be a failure in keeping up its heat 

 to fet the fruit, and bring it on. This intermediate 

 bed mould be made of proportionate ftrength, for the 

 time it is wanted, and may do at two and a half, or three 

 feet thick; nor need there be any great objection to an 

 intermediate bed, as it tends to infure.fuccefs, and brings 

 the plants on f after, and faves trouble in keeping up the 

 heat of the feed bed. 



Burning is a thing to be fufpecled when a bed is very 

 hot, and in proportion as the mould is damp; and fhould 

 therefore be ieen to, by drawing away fome mould from 

 the bottom near the middle ; and if it appears difco- 

 ioured, of a greyifh hue, and caked, let what is fo be 

 taken out from all partspf the bed a; foon as poflible ; 

 but take care that in doing it, too much cold, air do not 

 get in and damp the bed, or injure the plants. Do this 

 work at the belt time of the day, while the fun mines, if 

 it may be, and rather at twice, allowing an hour be- 

 tween, fill up with frelh and dry mould, and keep 

 the giaffes clofe, till the earth is got thorough warm 

 again. Burning, however, is not of fo much confe- 

 quence now, as when the plants are put out to fruit, 

 for the/!?/* may be drawn up from the evil ; but burnt 

 mould contaminates the air, as well as injures the roots 

 that it reaches to. See Burning again prefently. 



Steaming mull be guarded againft, and the rank efflu- 

 via which rifes in the bed at firit, andwhiliithe dung is 

 quite hot, mull have vent, night and day, by railing the 

 lights. A little rife will do on nights ; and if a mat 

 hangs before the aperture, or is nailed down loofely over 

 it y the too fudden entrance of cold air will be prevented. 

 Bui when the ftrong heat of the bed is certainly over, 



(hut 



