CUCURBITACE^l. IV. CUCUMIS. 



25 



bricks, there is a vacancy in the pits, about 4 feet deep below 

 the surface of the flues ; this vacancy I had filled to a level 

 with the surface of the flues, with vegetable or leaf mould ; and 

 in putting it in, it was gently pressed, to prevent it from sinking 

 too much afterwards. On the surface of the mould with which 

 the pits were filled, under the middle of each light, and which 

 is just in the centre of the mould in each pit, make hills of 

 mould, in the same form as is commonly done on a dung-bed. 

 These hills are to set the plants in, and are to be raised at first 

 nearly close to or within a few inches of the glass. Raising the 

 mould at first pretty nigh the glass is necessary, on account of 

 the sinking of it ; for as the frames are set on bricks, they 

 cannot sink ; but mould newly put in is sure to settle, and the 

 Measure of the settlement will ever depend upon the lightness 

 and texture of the mould with which the pits are filled. There- 

 fore, these and such-like matters must be left to the discretion 

 of those who are intrusted with the direction and management 

 of the frames. When the bed is thus finished, and ready for 

 the reception of the plants, if the flues be strewed over with 

 mould, so that their surface be just covered, to a stranger it is 

 altogether a deception, for in every respect it has the appear- 

 ance of a dung-bed. The sashes of the frames which I used 

 were glazed in lead ; but if any person who rears early cucum- 

 bers have lights which are not glazed in lead, but are slate- 

 glazed, the vacancies between the glass had best be filled up close 

 with putty, to prevent too much air from getting into the frames 

 in the cold days of winter. The frames under my management 

 were constantly kept in good repair, and painted over once every 

 year. This method, I am clearly of opinion, is more profitable 

 than if the frames were neglected for 2 or 3 years, and then 

 have a thorough repair, with 2 or 3 coats of paint. When 

 frames are new painted, they should be suffered to lie and 

 sweeten for some time, at least for 2 or 3 weeks, or until the 

 disagreeable smell of the paint is somewhat lessened. Although 

 the frames I used were of a very good size, yet if they were a 

 little smaller or larger, they would answer the purpose very 

 well. Therefore those who intend to build a bed after my plan, 

 have no occasion to make new frames merely for the purpose, 

 but they may get the bed built to fit the frames they are already 

 in possession of. The linings are to be applied to the bed a few 

 days before the plants are ready for finally planting out, in order 

 that the mould and every thing in the frames may be properly 

 warmed for their reception. The dung, of which the linings 

 are to be made, may either be cast together into a heap, to bring 

 it to a heat before it be laid round the bed, or it may be laid 

 round the bed as it is brought from the dung-yard ; but which- 

 ever of these methods be taken, when the linings are making 

 up, the dung should be well shaken, and laid up lightly, so that 

 the heat of it may come up freely. As it takes some days 

 before the linings are able to warm the earth in the bed suffi- 

 ciently for the reception of the plants, the rank steam of the 

 new dung linings is evaporated, unless the dung came imme- 

 diately from the stables, which seldom is the case. The linings 

 are to be made nearly 3 feet broad in their foundation, and ta- 

 pered up to about 30 inches at the top, by which they will retain 

 their heat long, and in sinking will keep close to the bed, which 

 is what should at all times be paid proper attention to. In the 

 winter and spring months, the linings should be trodden upon 

 as little as possible, for treading on them would be the means of 

 stagnating the heat. But should it at any time, in managing 

 the plants, be found necessary to stand or kneel upon them, 

 boards should be laid on their tops for that purpose ; which will 

 prevent the weight of a person from taking that effect on them 

 , which it otherwise would do. As the linings sink they are to 

 : be raised with fresh dung, but they should seldom be raised 

 higher than the level of the mould in the frames on which the 

 VOL. in. 



plants grow, especially when there is a strong heat in them ; for 

 when there is a great heat in them, if they are kept higher than 

 the level of the mould, the heat dries the air in the frames too 

 much. Nor should they be suffered to sink much below the 

 level of the mould in the frames, for that, on the contrary, 

 would cause too much moisture in the frames, especially in the 

 winter and spring months. When the heat begins to be too 

 little, notwithstanding the linings being kept to their proper 

 height, the fresh unexhausted dung underneath should be taken 

 away, and that which was laid aside put in the foundation, and 

 fresh dung laid above it, in lieu of that which was carried 

 away. Both the side linings may be raised at one time, 

 but both of them should never be renewed together ; for if 

 both were to be renewed at the same time, it would for a time 

 cool the frames too much, and when the heat of both came to 

 their full strength, it would probably be too powerful to the 

 roots of the plants when extended to the flues. I seldom or 

 never renew the end linings, because I found the heat of the 

 side ones fully sufficient ; for as there are flues or vacuities in 

 every part of the bed, the steam being fluid, circulates in and 

 warms every part thereof. And for the very same reason there 

 is no occasion for having a strong heat in both the side linings 

 at one and the same time, except in very cold weather. In 

 making up and pulling down the linings, care should be taken 

 not to injure the brick-work. The covering the lights in the 

 winter and spring is absolutely necessary ; for, notwithstanding 

 the heat of the linings, it would be impossible to keep up a pro- 

 per degree of heat in the frames for the plants without covering. 

 Therefore, the covering up in the evenings and uncovering in the 

 mornings must be particularly attended to, and more or less put 

 on according to the heat of the linings and temperature of the 

 weather. After the bed is set to work, heat and sweet moisture 

 are the two principal agents required for promoting the growth 

 and vigour of the plants ; therefore if there be a heat kept in 

 the linings, strong enough to keep the heat in the centre of the 

 pits of mould fluctuating between 80 and 90, cold water may 

 be poured on the flues twice or thrice a week. There is no 

 danger of creating damps or impure air in the frames by water- 

 ing the flues ; for the water is no sooner poured on them, than 

 it runs down their sides, and passes clear off through the drains 

 of the bed ; consequently, water being poured upon the flues, 

 gives only a momentary check to the heat of the frames ; for the 

 flues being at all times full of hot steam, when the watering is 

 finished, the heat quickly resumes its former vivacity, and raises 

 a warm vapour in the frames, well adapted for promoting veget- 

 ation, and for increasing the growth, and invigorating the plant 

 in all its parts. The mould round about the sides of the pits 

 close against the inner sides of the flues, should be kept nearly 

 on a level with the surface of the flues, and as it is the mould 

 that joins to the flues which receives the first and greatest heat 

 from the linings, it should be continually kept in a moist state ; 

 for if the mould against the flues be suffered to become dry and 

 husky, air will be generated in the frames disagreeable to the 

 plants." In all other respects, the culture of cucumber or 

 melon, on M'Phail's brick-bed, corresponds with the culture of 

 these fruits on common dung-beds. M'Phail has, in his " Gar- 

 deners' Remembrancer," as well as in his " Treatise on the Cu- 

 cumber," given the temperature of one of his beds for every 

 day in the year, of which the following table shows the extremes 

 for every month : 



morn. noon. even. 



January from 58 to 86 from 56 to 86 from 54 to 77 



February 68 88 66 90 58 84 



March 62 83 65 90 62 85 



April 69 84 68 93 64 90 



May 67 79 70 90 66 95 



E 



