ON COMMON DUNG BEDS. 15 



inure the plants to the open air; and at the 

 end of that month the lights and frames were 

 taken away to cover melons, (which had been 

 propagated under hand-glasses). After this 

 the cucumber plants were trained over the top 

 of the linings, and continued to produce abun- 

 dantly till October, which is ample proof that 

 the soil was what they liked. 



Peat -soil may be objected to as not being 

 sufficiently rich ; but when placed on sweet fer- 

 menting dung, the roots will help themselves to 

 food when the plants require it, and are swelling 

 off fruit. I have tried numerous experiments 

 with soils, variously mixed, from the year 1811 

 to the present time ; and I am perfectly satis- 

 fied that peat alone is best, and I am now 

 (January, 1841) using it on dung beds. 



Peat, however, varies greatly in quality ; and 

 that which I prefer is found lying on a sub- 

 stratum of gravel, and not more than three or 

 four inches thick. It neither requires prepara- 

 tion, nor to be kept before using ; but it may 



