CHAPTEK III. 



CUCUMBERS AND MELONS. 



THE CUCUMBER HOUSE. 



THIS house will be found the best, and in fact the 

 only safe means for growing winter Cucumbers under 

 the most adverse circumstances. It is almost impossible 

 in the northern counties to keep up enough heat during 

 the winter months under the pressure of sharp and 

 protracted frosts like those which we have experienced 

 the last two years, 1879 and 1880. No ordinary heat- 

 ing apparatus would meet the case in any way adequate 

 to the demand, except by a large amount of extra 

 trouble, such as keeping up a strong fire all night, by 

 attending to it the last thing at night, matting up, &c. ; 

 otherwise some expensive boiler must be used, and 

 even then the severe frost will get in by the morning, 

 or lower the temperature so much that it is almost out 

 of the question in the generality of cases to produce 

 Cucumbers all through the winter ; but by adopting 

 the double glazing, combined with a good ordinary 

 apparatus, and a moderate amount of firing without 

 any late attention, they can be had all through the 

 winter and under all circumstances however trying. 

 This house (fig. 19,) may be lowered one foot six inches 



