64 ON THE GROWTH OF THE CUCUMBER 



Covering the Pits at night, and uncovering them 

 in the morning. This should not be done until 

 it grows dark, light being essential to the well- 

 doing of the plants ; and for the same reason, in 

 the morning the covering should be taken off as 

 early as possible. But though this is the general 

 rule, reference must be had to the state of the 

 weather : as when this is very severe, the beds 

 should be covered in part at three o'clock, and 

 uncovered at nine, following the instructions 

 previously given as to the treatment of plants 

 in the common frames, and the directions for 

 shading, &c. 



The internal arrangements finished, the next 

 considerations are the linings and their manage- 

 ment ; and, as upon the heat of these, entirely 

 depends the working of the pit system, too 

 much attention cannot be given to them. The 

 manure for the linings should be horse dung, or 

 that and oak leaves, in equal quantities. When 

 the materials for the linings are collected, the 

 cavity round the pit must be filled with them, 



