OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. SECT. 



out upon, three or four in a patch, which cover with 

 a hand-glass, or otherwise, and shade also for a day 

 or two, if sunny. If you can take three or four 

 plants up together by a scoop trowel, with earth to 

 the roots, the better ; and if not, plant them pretty 

 near together, laying them aslant, so that the shanks 

 be covered two or three inches. Keep these plan! a 

 earthed up, and as much under their covers as may 

 be, till towards Midsummer, covering the parts that 

 run out on nights till this time. The third crop is 

 that generally sown for picklers. Guard against tha 

 Spot by a mat- cover in September. 



Sometimes, at this season, cucumbers are sown 

 for picklers in cold ground, especially about London, 

 or south or zcest of it ; but soil, situation, and season, 

 make a great difference in the cultivation of all, and 

 particularly of delicate plants. If any seed be sown* 

 on cold ground, let it be in dry weather; give them 

 a favourable situation, and sow in patches eight or 

 nine seeds in a hole, formed like a shallow basin, co- 

 vering half an inch deep; and if covered with hand 

 glasses, to bring them up a little while, it were much 

 better. Thin them when getting into rough leaf, to 

 four or five of the best plants ; spread them a little,, 

 and earth up to the seed leaves, giving a little water; 

 and if, afterwards, the number of plants is reduced 

 to three, it would be better than more. Give plenty 

 of air by day, and a little on nights. liaise earth 

 above the shanks as they grow, and let it lie about 

 them, while the plants are small, in the form of a 

 shallow basin. 



As to saving the seed of cucumbers, as it is of 

 some consequence to be ascertained of a good kind* 

 when the early nature and approved quality of any 

 sort is known, it ought to be an object to save it well; 

 which will be best done from plants of the second 

 , that have been ridged 6itt A i. e. brought up 



