CRESS OR PEPPER GRASS. 221 



table, and yet have not a convenient stream of water, may adopt 

 the following method, which is said to answer the purpose weU, 

 though we have never given it a trial. It is simply to prepare a 

 hot-bed, as early in March as possible, and plant it with the Water 

 Cress. In this, if kept pretty close, it is said to grow very luxu- 

 riantly, and can be cut as it is wanted. It will soon grow up 

 again after being cut, and requires only to be watered freely twice 

 a week, to give an abundant supply. When the sun becomes 

 hot, it will be necessary to whitewash the glass to prevent the 

 plants from scalding. K plants can not conveniently be had, no 

 doubt they can be raised in the bed from seed, only requiring 

 longer time to get established. 



Cucumbers. — The soil best suited to the growth of the Cucum- 

 ber, is a light, friable loam, thoroughly drained and in good heart. 

 Those who grow this vegetable in quantity for market, find a 

 well-rotted sod to be an excellent manure for them, turning it 

 under in the end of August, and ploughing again in spring, and 

 giving a third ploughing just before planting. If the object be 

 to get cucumbers for pickling, there is no occasion to plant before 

 the first of July, and by planting late, the vines make such rapid 

 growth as soon to get out of the way of striped bugs and other 

 insect pests. The hills may be placed at four feet apart each 

 way, and a dozen seeds sown in each, and if too many should 

 survive the attacks of their numerous foes, they may be thinned 

 out to four or five plants in each hill. 



It is a good plan to put a shovelful or two of thoroughly 

 rotted manure in each hill, and work it up with the soil before 

 planting. In this way the manure is economized and applied 

 more directly where it is wanted, than by spreading it broad-cast 

 over the whole ground. 



When Cucumbers are wanted for the table or market in the 

 beginning of summer, it is necessary to have recourse to frames, 

 in order to get the plants well started in good season, and to get 

 them so large before they are exposed in the open ground, that they 

 will escape the ravages of the striped bug. The best way of 



