54 CuUivalion and JManagemenl of forced Cucumbers. 



Before making the bed, collect brush-wood, or old stumps 

 of trees, &c., to form a drainnge at the bottom, one foot high; 

 if this be not done, water from heavy rahis would chill the 

 bed, by flooding the ground all around it. After the bed has 

 been made four or five weeks, the manure will become dry 

 from the heat evaporating, and will therefore require water in 

 large quantities to be poured into holes that have been perfo- 

 rated in various parts of the bed, for that purpose: the drain- 

 age will allow the superabundance of water to pass off freely, 

 and no unwholesome steam will arise to injure ihe plants. If 

 the bed is made in the month of March, it should be built at 

 least three feet high, spreading the dung evenly, and gently 

 beating It down with a fork: by the middle of May, the bed 

 will not be more than eighteen inches high, therefore it will 

 be immediately perceived that three feet of manure, in the first 

 start, will not be too much. 



Having formed the bed or beds, put on the frames and 

 lights, and shut up close till the heat rises; then give air night 

 and day, sufficient only to allow the steam to passofl", and once 

 or twice a week fork the surface over about six Inches deep, 

 to sweeten it, and in this operation, if any of the manure ap- 

 pears dry, water it. The rank steam having passed away, 

 and the bed being quite sweet, it will be ready for the earth In 

 which the plants are to be grown; this should be composed of 

 a good friable loam, with about one third of well rotted ma- 

 nure thoroughly mixed with it, adding a portion of coarse sand, 

 if the mould be deficient of it; then place about one bushel 

 of this compost on the bed, under the centre of each light. 

 The next day, the plants may be put out, placing two in each 

 hill, and about six Inches from the glass. When the roots 

 make their appearance all round the hill, which they will do in 

 about a week, or less lime perhaps, cover them over about 

 one inch with the same kind of soil as that In which the plants 

 are growing, and continue to do so every few days for three 

 or four weeks. By following this method the plants will grow 

 rapidly; but if the whole bed is earthed over a few days after 

 the plants have been put out, they will not flourish or grow so 

 vigorously in three weeks as they would in one week with the 

 treatment I have proposed; the great quantity of soil will 

 chill the bed, and prevent the heat from rising freely. Be 

 sure to keep In the frames watering-pots, filled with soft wa- 

 ter, for the purpose of watering the plants, as cold water from 



