OF EARLY CUCUMBERS. 5 



again, and give the light one or two inches of 

 air, according to the temperature of the weather. 



It will now be necessary to wrap up the bed 

 with straw, pea-halm, or hay, about eighteen 

 inches wide at the bottom, drawing it in gra- 

 dually to a foot wide, within three inches of the 

 top of the box. 



In three or four days stir up the bed in the 

 same manner as before, observing that if it be 

 in the least dry, or inclined to a burning heat, 

 to give it three or more pots of water, as shall 

 seem necessary. It must be stirred up again in 

 three or four days, and beat down gently with a 

 fork, when it will be in a fit state to receive the 

 old tan or mould in which the seed is to be 

 deposited. 



A seed-bed should always lay a fortnight or 

 three weeks before the seed is attempted to be 

 sown ; as many evil consequences are to be 

 apprehended from sowing it before, from the 

 firing of the bed, or the impure nature of the 



