S]Cr. XIV. OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. 



wards perfection. Thb business of setting the fruit 

 may be practised through the months of February, 

 March, and April, but afterwards it will not be ne- 

 cessary ; for the admission of so much air as may 

 afterwards be given, will disperse the farina effectu- 

 ally ; but if the weather still is bad, or remarkably 

 calm, setting may be continued a little longer. If 

 short of male flowers, one of them may serve to im- 

 pregnate two females. Pull off all the male flowers as 

 fast as they die upon the vines. Lay a bit of tile, or 

 some such thing, under forward fruit. 



Something of priming may perhaps be necessary, 

 for plants will not bear well, either in quantity, or 

 quality, if the frames are crowded. The rule (of 

 course) is, to cut out those runners that can be best 

 spared, as being weak, most in the way, or having 

 the smallest fruit on them. But as the fulness is ge 

 nerally owing to the putting in the bed too many 

 plants, the better method is to cut down to the root 

 a whole plant, and that in time; i. e. on the prospect- 

 of being too full of vine : this may seern a great sa- 

 crifice, but it will prove a profitable one. Let the 

 discharged plant lay a day to wither, that it hang 

 not hard to the others, and break their leaves, iu 

 drawing it out while fresh. About Midsummer, the 

 frame may be raised, to permit the runners to strike 

 out, and in a fortnight after taken entirely off; though 

 once in a frame, and always in, is better, if conve- 

 nient. 



A SECOND CROP of cucumbers may be sown at any 

 time between the middle and end of March, if they 

 are to be brought up in frames; but if under hand-: 

 glasses, or paper covers, then any time from the be- 

 ginning of April to the middle, is soon enough, at 

 least in 'Northamptonshire. A hot bsd for sowing 



