238 THE amateur's GEEEIfHOUSE 



our movements to the state of the weather and the indications 

 of the barometer. Yet during the past seven years the dates 

 of planting cucumbers in this house, the dates of cutting the 

 first fruit, and the dates of taking down the worn-out vines, 

 have varied so slightly that wc might from those dates con- 

 clude that this climate is one of the most constant on the face 

 of the earth. We know it to be otherwise, but no matter. 

 Our average date of sowing the seed has been March 20 ; of 

 planting out, June 6 ; of cutting the first fruit, July 3 ; thence 

 to the middle of October the appearance of the house is repre- 

 sented in the accompanying sketch. The Sion Rouse breed 

 suits best for this off-hand system, and the best of that breed 

 is Bollisson's Telegraph, but CuthilVs BlacJc Spine also answers 

 admirably. 



The seedling pelargoniums that occupy this house all the 

 winter are grown in accordance with the directions given in 

 the chapter on the subject. 



