THE CUCUMBER HOUSE. 67 



These boilers have two flow outlets, which are 

 necessary for this kind of house, and they also have 

 two returns. The Thames Bank Company, London, 

 keep a large stock of boilers of every class and size, 

 and every kind of connection and fitting. They have 

 also a patent method of fixing the pipes by means 

 of india-rubber rings for the sockets, which offers 

 such a facility for fixing hot- water pipes that any or- 

 dinarily good workman can fix them. I can fix them 

 myself. I was much pleased with the idea when some 

 little time ago I had an apparatus from them to be 

 attached to *a Cucumber house. I will endeavour to 

 give the cost of it, and I find by a pretty correct calcu- 

 lation, that for an efficient apparatus with one of these 

 thirty-six-inch conical boilers, 360 feet four-inch piping, 

 and all necessary connections, together with the fixing, 

 the cost will be 36L as nearly as possible ; but it must 

 be remembered that this is a powerful heating apparatus, 

 and able to keep up a growing heat let the weather be 

 what it may, ordinarily speaking. 



The cost of building the house will be about the 

 same as for the early vinery with the border pro- 

 tector, complete, viz. 541. 10s. This is at a much 

 lower rate than is usual, more than 50 per cent., and 

 ' double-glazed,' without which no house can be gua- 

 ranteed frost-proof, or even warranted to maintain a 

 temperature sufficient for Cucumber growing in the 

 winter. 



Those who contemplate growing Cucumbers for the 

 winter should get the house finished by July and ready 

 for making the bed by the end of the month, and as 

 soon as August comes, commence to make a good bed 

 in the south pit, and when the heat rises sow the seed. 



