CHAP. XXI VILLA GAEDENING 479 



houses, with abundant light and moisture, very little ventilation 

 will be needed beyond what is obtained by filtration through the 

 laps or other permanent openings. As regards 



Soil, simple things are best. Two-thirds tiu-fy loam with one- 

 third old manure, will do well. I have found an advantage in 

 giving a pound of Amies' manure to each bushel of soil, mixing 

 all together thorouglily. Whatever the arrangements for bottom- 

 heat may be, if it is supplied by pipes laid in rubble it will be an 

 advantage to have a foot or so of fermenting materials on the top 

 of the rubble, if there is room enough. I am not sure that I 

 require to enter into the why or wherefore of this, but I have 

 proved its efficacy often, and must recommend it. Cucumbers do 

 not require a great bulk of soil to grow in at first, but they must 

 have frequent light top-dressings after they get fivirly into work, 

 and the soil used for this purpose shoidd have the chill taken off 

 before coming into contact with the roots. 



Liquid and Artificial IManures. — These must always play 

 an important part in Cucumber-growing, and the two may mean 

 one and tlie same thing. If a good supply of liquid manure should 

 be at hand in any wholesome form, whether drainage from a farm- 

 yard or house sewage, artificial manure may perhaps not be needed ; 

 still, plants like a change of diet sometimes, and I have used arti- 

 ficials with advantage even when I had plenty of liquid manure in 

 the tank. 



In the Frame the Cucumber has long been grown, and though 

 a considerable amount of skill is brought to bear upon its cidture 

 early in the season, I never remember to have cut Cuciunbers out 

 of a frame before March. It used to be thought very good work 

 to cut any time in March with nothing beyond a dungbed for top 

 and bottom heat. Unless there is a warm house to raise the plants 

 in, a hotbed for the purpose should be made up early in the year. 

 This may be of smaller dimensions than will be required to plant 

 in later on. A oue-light frame will be large enough for a seedbed. 

 The blending and mixing of the materials in the formation of the 

 hotbed is a work requiring some judgment and experience, for, 

 unless this is properly done, the bed will either be too hot or too 

 cold, and the whole thing, for the time being at least, involved hi 

 ruin. To make a bed for Cucumbers in January a considerable 

 bulk of materials will be required. The bed when built should not 

 be less than 5 feet high at back and i feet at front, and at least a 

 foot wider on all sides than the frames. The best materials for 

 liotbeds are about equal parts of Oak leaves and stable manure. 

 With these the heat will be steady and lasting, both qualities being 

 essential to success. The materials should be wheeled or carted to 



