CULTURE OF THE CUCUMBER IN A DUNG-BED. 508 



and January, little water will be wanted, but in February, March, and 

 April, more may be given ; always, however, in the morning, and only 

 when there is a prospect of the plants becoming dry by covering-up 

 time. In dull weather never water the plants, but the mould only. 



Stopping. The shoots should never be suffered to get into a crowded 

 state, otherwise they will become weak and unfruitful ; and their fruit, 

 such as they will bear, will be of a small and inferior kind. After the 

 plants are thoroughly established, stop at a leaf beyond each fruit as it 

 appears. 



Moulding-up. As the roots show themselves through the hillocks of 

 earth, let them be covered with an inch or two of the soil recommended, 

 placing more between the hillocks than elsewhere. This is done in 

 order that the hillocks may meet and form a ridge along the middle of 

 the bed by the end of December ; but care should be taken to keep 

 the sides clear of mould, to admit of the heat of the linings rising 

 through them, to give that lively heat within the frame which is 

 usually called top-heat, and which is necessary for the plants, as it 

 causes them to dry in the day, during the most unfavourable weather, 

 and yet gives them steam moisture by night. The whole of the bed 

 should not be. covered with earth until the end of March. 



The covering at night must be carefully managed, so as to allow the 

 mats or other material to overlap on to the linings at any point, other- 

 wise the rank steam will be drawn in to the destruction of the plants. 

 The covering should be thickened as the cold increases; and when the 

 weather is very severe, double mats, with a layer of straw or hay 

 between them, should be used. When the season turns, the days 

 lengthen ; and as the sun's heat, during the day, aids in warming the 

 bed within the frame, discontinue the covering by degrees down to a 

 single mat, to be finally dispensed with at the end of May. 



Setting or impregnating the fruit is considered helpful to their 

 swelling, and may be practised with the earlier crops. 



To procure seed from the large varieties is often difficult. It is well 

 to impregnate every blossom several times when seed is desired, and then 

 to watch for any irregularity of growth in the fruit, and save those for 

 seeds with such tendencies. They should not be cut until they are 

 quite ripe, then put into a warm, dry vinery for a month, when they 

 may be opened, the seed taken out, washed and dried ; those only 

 which sink being retained. 



When extraordinary fine fruit is desired, allow the plant to mature 

 only ; but a succession may be permitted, so that the after-fruit do 

 not follow too closely on the first. By this plan the growth will be 

 rapid, provided the plants are in health ; and the fruit be much better 

 flavoured than if grown slowly. When long in swelling off, the fruit 

 frequently becomes hard and bitter, and is therefore worthless. From 

 75 to 80 are as high as the plant will bear to advantage ; and in that 

 temperature fruit will grow faster than in a higher one. It will be 

 seen from these directions respecting preparing the dung, making the 

 beds, applying and working the linings, &c., that the mode of growing 

 the cucumber on dung-beds is exceedingly troublesome and expensive, 



