SECT. XIV. OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. 18§ 



A feed bed, at this time, mould have a growing heat 

 for one month, when the plants will be fit (the latter 

 end of April, or beginning of May) to put either into 

 another two feet and a half hot bed with a frame, or 

 only under hand-glafjes, &c. which mould be rather 

 large, becaufe plants running from under them much 

 before Midfummer will hardly endure the weather. 

 Let them be covered up on nights with a /ingle mat ; 

 and when thev muft run trom under the olafies, flicks, 

 or hoops, mav be fixt to keep the mats off from prefling 

 upon them: fallen the covering down at the corners 

 with pegged fticks, to keep them from blowing awav. 

 Let the ground about the bed be ftirred, and aifo raifed, 

 to train the plants level, and to give the roots full room 

 to fhike freely. 



For ridging cucumbers, that are to have only hand- 

 glaffes, or fome fuch cover, obierve (as advifed) nog 

 to fow too forward, for better be rather late, than have 

 the plants cut off, or much injured, juft as they are 

 going to bear. The hot bed, or ridge t made in Ma\\ 

 for hand-glaffes, mould be funk in a dry foil, two 

 fpades deep ; and two teet and a half thick of good 

 dung is now enough. The mould that is thrown out 

 (if it is good) may be ufed to cover the bed: and if 

 but indifferent, may be laid round it, or on it, towards 

 the outfides. Lay on it at firit" only three inches of 

 mould, except where the plants are to be, at which 

 place lay a depth of about nine inches, rather more 

 than lefs. It is not neceflfary that ihq earth mould 

 be very dry, as directed for early cucumbers, but let it 

 be warm firil to plant in. If it be Mid-May before the 

 plants are put out., holes of two or three barrows full 

 of dung will be fufficient to bring them on through 

 M*y, and then the ieafon (if it is not bad) will be 

 warm enough to keep them puming forwards. There 

 fhould be near four feet diliance betwr-en each (et of 

 plants. Shade thern for a few days at firil putting out, 

 and cover on nights till Mid-June. 



Cucum- 



