OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. SECT. XIV. 



Burning is a thing to be suspected when a bed is 

 very hot, and in proportion as the mould is damp ; 

 and should therefore be seen to, by drawing away 

 some mould from the bottom near the middle ; and 

 if it appears discoloured, of a greyish hue, and caked, 

 let what is so be taken out from all parts of the bed 

 as soon as possible ; but take care that in doing it, 

 too much cold air do not get in, and damp the bed, 

 or injure the plants. Do this work at the best time 

 of the day, while the sun shines, if it may be, and 

 rather at twice, allowing an hour between. Fill up 

 with fresh and dry mould, and keep the glasses close, 

 till the earth is got thorough warm again. Burning, 

 however, is not of so much consequence now, as when 

 the plants are put out to fruit, for the pots may be 

 drawn up from the evil ; but burnt mould contami- 

 nates the air, as well as injures the roots that it 

 reaches to. See Burning again presently. 



Steaming must be guarded against, and the rank 

 effluvia which rises in the bed at first, and whilst the 

 dung is quite hot, must have vent night and day, by 

 raising the lights. A little rise will do on nights; 

 and if a mat hangs before the aperture, or is nailed 

 down loosely over it, the too sudden entrance of cold 

 air will be prevented. But when the strong heat of 

 the bed is certainly over, shut close on nights, and 

 give but little air in unfavourable days. Rank steam 

 is sometimes drawn into a frame from the outside of 

 the bed, occasioned by the mats hanging over it; 

 therefore, in covering, it is necessary to keep up the 

 ends of the mats, so that the glass and frame only be 

 covered. Danger of steaming arises also from the 

 application of fresh linings, ths smoke of which, 

 wind may drive into the frames; so that the lining 

 should either be covered with two or three inches of 

 mould, or, which is better, a good thickness of fine 

 dry hay. Sometimes steam will insinuate itself 



