1SS OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. SECT XIV, 



fail as they die upon the vines. Lay a bit of tile, or 

 fome fach thing, under forward fruit. 



Something of pruning may perhaps be neceflarv, for 

 plants will not bear well, either in quantity, or ntuiiif, 

 il the frames are crowded. The rule (of courfej i<, to 

 cut out thofe runners that can be befl fpared, as being 

 weak, moil in the way, or having the fmallell frc: 

 them. But as the fulnefs is generally owing to the 

 putting in the bed too many plants, the better method is 

 to cut down to the root a whole plant; and that in 

 b e. on the profpeel of being too full of vine : this may 

 feem a great facrifice, but it will prove a profitable one. 

 Let the difcharged plant lay a day to wither, that it 

 hang not hard to the others, and break their leaves, in 

 drawing it out while frefh. About Midfu?wner, the 

 frame may be raifed, to permit the runners to hrikeout, 

 and in a fortnight after taken entirely off; though once 

 in a frame, and always in, is better, if convenient. 



A second crop of cucumbers m.zy be fown at any 

 time between the middle and end of March, if they 

 are to be brought up in frames ; but if under hand- 

 glaffes, or paper covers, then any time from the begin- 

 ning of April to the middle, is foon enough, at leaft 

 in Northampton/hire. A hot bed for fowing the feed at 

 this time, need only be from two and a half to three 

 feet thick, and a one-light frame. On this bed alfo 

 may be fown, in pots, or otherwife, tender annuals ; 

 and it is a very good time for moft of them. Or the 

 feed for plants to ridge out under haud-glalfes, may be 

 fown in pots, and placed in other hot beds, to bring 

 them forward till they have been flopped. 



What has been laid about making hot beds, and 

 fowing, and managing cucumbers, will direct now ; 

 only at this feafon, mowings of graft may be put 

 round a bed to increafe the heat, and will be found ufe- 

 ful to lay on the top of dung linings when funk. 



A feed 



