SECT. XIV. OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. 201 



out (if it is good) may be used to cover the bed; 

 and if but indifferent, may be laid round it, or on it, 

 towards the outsides. Lay on it at first only three 

 inches of mould, except where the plants are to be, 

 at which place lay a depth of about nine inches, 

 rather more than less. It is not necessary that the 

 earth should be very dry, as directed for early cu- 

 cumbers, but let it be warm first to plant in. If it 

 be Mid- May before the plants are put out, holes of 

 two or three barrows full of dung will be sufficient 

 to bring them on through May, and then the season 

 (if it is not bad) will be warm enough to keep them 

 pushing forwards. There should be near four feet 

 distance between each set of plants. Shade them 

 for a few days at first putting out, and cover on nights 

 till Mid-June. 



Cucumbers not sown till the beginning of April, 

 may be brought to bear fruit on one good bed, if 

 under a large frame ; and such a bed would, at the 

 same time, serve very well to sow, or to prick out, 

 tender annuals. See section 1 8, On flowers. 



A THIRD CROP of cucuinbers may be sown any 

 time, from the middle to the end of May, (or even a 

 little later) either in a pot or not, upon some hot bed 

 in use, to grow for a week or ten days ; or sow upon 

 a little heat of two or three barrows full of warm 

 dung, trod close, and previously thrown together for 

 the purpose : or if fresh and moist from the stable, it 

 will, though at present cold, heat itself. Cover the 

 dung with six inches of mould, and sow half inch 

 deep, and half an inch asunder, under a hand-glass ; 

 and when the plants are completely up, thin them to 

 an inch asunder, where let them grow, earthing them 

 up as they get tall, till they show rough leaf. Then 

 prepare more such little bodies of heat to plant them 



