20 



CUCURBITACE^E. IV. CUCUMIS. 



building a bed." When the heat decreases, Nicol cuts away the 

 old dung perpendicularly by the frame, and adds new linings, 

 (generally beginning with the back first,) 2 feet broad to the 

 height of G inches about the bottom of the bed frame. As it 

 will sink considerably in heating, he adds to it in a few days. 

 Mills applies linings of hot dung prepared a month previously. 



Covering. This must be nightly performed till June, pro- 

 portioning the warmth of the cover to the heat of the air in the 

 bed, and that of the external air. Mats are laid next the glass ; 

 on these a layer of hay, and over these mats, made fast by boards, 

 but not hanging over the linings, is the usual mode, early in 

 the season. M'Phail says, " My method of covering up was 

 as follows : in the first place I laid clean single mats on the light 

 in length and breadth, just or nearly to cover the sashes, taking 

 care not to suffer any part of the mats to hang over the sashes, 

 on or above the linings, for that would be the means of draw- 

 ing the steam into the frames in the night time. On these mats 

 was spread equally a covering of soft hay, and on the hay was 

 laid another covering of single mats, upon which were laid two, or 

 sometimes three or four rows of boards, to prevent the covering 

 from being blown off by the wind. The mats laid on next to 

 the glass are merely to keep the seeds and dust, which may hap- 

 pen to be in the hay, from getting into the frames among the 

 plants. If the bed be high, in covering up steps or short lad- 

 ders must be used by those whose office it is to cover and un- 

 cover; and great care must be taken not to break or injure the 

 glass." 



Air. Abercrombie directs to " admit air every day when 

 the weather is moderate, without much wind; and always more 

 freely on sunny days, than when cloudy or cold and frosty. 

 Open the lights behind, only a little at first, sooner or later in 

 the day, according to the temperature of the season ; increasing 

 the opening from about half an inch to 1, 2, or 3 inches, or very 

 little more (decrease the opening occasionally, if the weather in 

 the early part of the season changes very cold) ; and shut close 

 in the same gradual order towards afternoon, generally shutting 

 close in the evening, unless in the early state of the bed, a 

 considerable heat and steam continues. In this case you may 

 occasionally leave open about half an inch, hanging the end of 

 the mat before each opening." M'Phail says, " A cucumber 

 plant delights in a strong heat, and in sweet wholesome air ; but 

 if the air in which it grows be contaminated, unhealthy, or im- 

 pure, the plant will not continue long in a healthy flourishing 

 condition. Whatever is disagreeable to the smell becomes in 

 time hurtful to the cucumber plant ; therefore whoever would 

 wish to know if the air in a cucumber frame be in a healthy 

 nature for the plants, should smell to it." He adds, in giving 

 and taking away the air, do it gradually, that is, by little and 

 little at a time, which without doubt is the best way : for sudden 

 changes are always attended with unpleasant consequences. A 

 due proportion and continual supply of fresh air is at all times 

 necessary, and more or less is required according to the heat of 

 the linings, the temperature of the weather, and the thickness of 

 the coverings put on at nights. Gard. rememb. p. 42. Nicol 

 admits air regularly in as large portions as the state of the 

 weather will allow, being careful to let off rank steam, if it 

 abound, by leaving a tilt, even in the night. Mills says, " My 

 usual time of giving fresh air to the frames, and permitting the 

 foul to escape, in the winter months, (that is, from the middle of 

 November to the middle of February,) is as follows : between 8 

 and 9 in the morning I raise the lights, and let the confined air 

 pass off, shutting them again ; about 10 I give a little air ; at 1 1 

 more ; at one I lower the lights a little, and between 3 and 4 I 

 close them entirely. About two hours after the covering of 

 hay has been put on, I give a little air for the night. Should the 

 weather be changeable, the lights must be raised or lowered 



more or less, as circumstances may require ; but some air about 

 the times of the day above mentioned is absolutely necessary to 

 keep the plants in a free growing state." 



Water. "Give necessary waterings with water warmed to the 

 air of the bed, mostly in the forenoon of a mild day, in early 

 forcing ; and in the morning or afternoon in the advanced season 

 of hot sunny weather." Abercrombie. M'Phail says, " The 

 quantity of water requisite to be given to the plants depends 

 upon the heat of the bed, the strength and age of the plants, and 

 also on the temperature of the weather. When the weather is 

 cold, wet, and gloomy, and the air moist, they require less water 

 than when the weather is clear, and the air more dry. If too 

 much water be given, or if water be given too often, it will hin- 

 der the fruit from setting and swelling kindly ; and if too little 

 water be given, the plants will grow weak, and the fruit hollow. 

 I seldom watered the plants with water warmer than 85, nor 

 colder than 65 ; although in general I tried by the thermometer 

 the warmth of the water I used, yet it is not necessary so to do. 

 A good way to know if the water be of a proper temperature is 

 to take a mouthful of it, and when it feels neither hot nor cold, 

 then it is in a fit state for accelerating the growth of the plants, 

 or for making them grow fast. I made a constant rule never to 

 water the plants but with clean sweet water ; and if the water be 

 clean and sweet, I am of opinion it makes little or no difference 

 whether it be pump water, spring water, rain water, or river 

 water. However, it is a good quality in water to bear soap, and 

 make a lather therewith, which rain and river water readily do ; 

 but the pump and spring waters are found too hard to do it, yet 

 this may easily be remedied in them, by letting them stand a 

 few days in the open air, and sun's rays. With regard to the 

 time of the day in which the watering ought to be performed, I 

 think it is not material, nor did I ever make any rule with re- 

 spect to the time, but gave them water at any hour of the day, 

 when I saw they stood in need of it, and when it best suited my 

 conveniency. Those who have hot-houses may get their water 

 warmed there, and those who have no hot-houses may get some 

 from the house, or from some other place where water is fre- 

 quently heated. One gallon of hot water will properly water 

 several gallons of cold water." Tate says "in spring and in the 

 summer months the water may be warmed by exposure to the rays 

 of the sun." Nicol airs his water ' by some means or other ;" 

 waters once in two or three days after planting, and liberally from 

 the rose of the watering pot as the plants advance. The time 

 chosen is the afternoon about 4 or 5 o'clock, in order not to 

 scorch the plants, which, he says, often happens, when, after 

 morning waterings, the sun's rays suddenly dart on the plants. 

 Kal. p. 366 335. J. Mearns, already mentioned, uses water 

 impregnated with sheep's dung, as does Mr. Knight. Mearns 

 tried this water first " on some cucumber plants in the pine 

 stove, which had been planted in January, but which in conse- 

 quence of dull weather had become weak, and of a pale green 

 colour ; he applied the liquor to the roots, and in a few days a 

 great change in the appearance of the plants was produced ; the 

 foliage assumed a hardy green, the shoots acquired an unusual 

 degree of strength, with short joints, and although the stove had 

 scarcely any air given to it, yet the fruit swelled rapidly, and 

 attained a large size." These plants continued in bearing till 

 May, and were then cut back to within 6 inches of the root, 

 when they started again with vigour. " No water was ever 

 given over the leaves, but a continued supply of the liquid 

 pigeon-dung manure to the roots." Mearn. ex Loud. ency. 

 Gard. p. 635. For Mills's practice as to watering see his pro- 

 cess under temperature. 



Earthing. " Observe," says Abercrombie, " in proper time 

 when the first heat of the bed is moderate, to begin adding more 

 earth between the hills, as the extending roots require to be 



