71 



plants. To remedy this, I put six small earthen pipes 

 into each division, the one end resting upon the tank 

 covers, the other standing up above the soil. When I 

 found by the watch sticks that the soil was getting 

 dry, I poured water down the pipes through a tin fun- 

 nel which I had made on purpose; this spread itself 

 over the surface of the tank covers, and diffused a 

 gentle moisture to the soil, so congenial to the growth 

 of plants. This was a move in] the right [direction. 

 I then thought that it would be better to pour the 

 manure water down upon the tank covers, which I 

 have done since. I found the broken stones over the 

 tank covers troublesome ; they were also a harbour for 

 wood-lice. I now use only a layer of leaves next the 

 covers, and they are cleared out with the soil." 



On Atmospheric Humidity. 



Cucumbers cannot at any time be successfully grown 

 in an arid atmosphere, although, during the winter 

 season, they require a much less proportion of atmos- 

 pheric humidity, than under the influence of longer 

 days and brighter light; and conversely, the degree 

 which would be necessary to secure their welfare in 

 summer, would be fatal to them in winter. An expe- 

 rienced gardener would tell almost instinctively, at 

 either season, whether a sufficient supply was present 

 or not; but less experienced cultivators would need 

 some index, or register, to guide them. Such an in- 

 dex is afforded by the hygrometer ; but most of the 

 kinds of hygrometers are delicate instruments, and 

 hardly suited for garden use. What is needed in this 

 case is, not an instrument which requires minute ob- 

 servations and calculations, but something that will at 

 once indicate the atmospheric humidity as plainly as 



