CUCUMBERS 127 



if necessary, taking care to use water having the same 

 temperature as that in the frame. If very cold water 

 is used, the plants are likely to be chilled and stopped 

 in growth. Air is given by " tilting " the frames on 

 all fine days until the afternoon, when the lights should 

 be closed to keep in the warmth during the night. 



Cucumbers grown in this way, from seeds sown in 

 February, are fit for cutting in April ; in May and 

 June from seeds sown a month or so later. 



Cucumbers under Cloches. Seeds may be sown in 

 the first half of April in gentle hot-beds in the way 

 already described, afterwards placing the young 

 plants out in frames, and keeping them close and 

 shaded for two or three days, until they start again 

 into growth. Towards the end of April trenches and 

 holes, each about 2 ft. wide, i ft. deep, and about 

 2^ ft. apart, are made in a straight line on a warm 

 sheltered border. These holes or trenches are filled 

 with good manure to make a little hot-bed about 

 1 8 in. deep. The soil taken out is then spread over 

 the heaps of manure in a layer about 8 in. thick, and 

 a basin is made on top of each to accommodate a few 

 handfuls of rich mould. When the rank heat has 

 subsided, a young Cucumber plant is placed in the 

 centre of each heap up to the seed-leaves, taking care 

 beforehand to lift each plant with a nice ball of soil 

 round the roots. The plants are watered well to 

 settle the soil round them, after which each one is 

 covered with a cloche, the upper two-thirds of which 

 has been smeared with liquid whiting, lime, or clay, 

 to serve as a shading against the sun. For three or 

 four days the cloches are kept shut down on the soil, 

 to encourage new growth. After this, however, the 



