OF EARLY CUCUMBERS. 27 



bottom of the box, leaving three or four inches 

 round the sides to keep out the rankness from 

 the linings, as before directed. 



In covering up the plants, a single mat will be 

 sufficient, until they have been ridged out a 

 fortnight, unless the weather is windy or very 

 cold ; in such case, make use of a double mat 

 or a little hay ; be careful, at the same time, 

 not to give them too much covering at first, as 

 it will draw the plants, and cause them to grow 

 very weak; in this, however, you .must be in 

 some degree guided by the heat of the bed, and 

 the temperature of the weather. When there 

 is a good heat, and the weather is still, they will 

 require less ; but if there is much wind, or the 

 air is very cold, it must of course be increased. 

 It seldom occurs that plants require much 

 covering until a fortnight before Christmas, 

 when it will be found necessary, if the weather 

 is moderate, to cover them from four to six 

 inches. Instances have occurred, when the 

 author has been obliged to increase the covering 

 to a foot in thickness, from the intense cold ; 



