FORCING CUCUMBERS. 121 



be protected by hand glasses. This would insure their heading 

 before the approach of extreme warm weather, which is 

 very injurious to Cauliflower. 



FORCING CUCUMBERS. 



To produce Cucumbers at an early season, should be an 

 object of emulation with every gardener. The business of 

 forcing them should commence about eight or ten weeks 

 before the fruit is desired, and a succession of plants should 

 be raised to provide for accidents. Some choose the Short 

 Prickly, others the Long Green and White Spined ; and seed 

 two or three years old is generally preferred, as it is not so apt 

 to run to vines. 



The seed is generally sown in pots or boxes of light rich 

 mould, and placed in a hot-bed ; and some sow the seed in 

 the earth of a small bed prepared for the purpose. In either 

 case, as soon as the plants have fully expanded their two 

 seed leaves, they may be transplanted into pots, putting 

 three plants in each pot ; when this is done, apply water 

 warmed to the temperature of the bed, and shut down the 

 glasses, keeping them a little shaded by throwing a mat over 

 the glass, till the plants have taken root. When they are 

 about a month old, they will be fit to transplant into the fruit- 

 ing bed. 



To prepare the dung properly, is of the greatest impor- 

 tance in forcing the Cucumber, and if not done before it is 

 made into a bed, it cannot be done afterward, as it requires 

 turning and managing to cause it to ferment freely and 

 sweetly. Fresh dung from the stable should be laid in a heap, 

 turned three times, and well mixed with a fork ; if any ap- 

 pears dry, it should be made wet, always keeping it between 

 the two extremes of wet and dry, that the whole may have 

 a regular fermentation. 



A dry situation should be chosen on which to form beds, 

 11 



