VEGETABLES 41 



the bed and put the frame over it, the bed being a 

 foot larger all round than the frame ; tread it down 

 well, then put a thermometer into the bed, and as 

 soon as the heat becomes steady between 85° and 

 90,° put in a barrowful of soil in the form of mole- 

 hills, and arrange one under each light. 



The best soil for cucumbers is turfy loam two- 

 thirds, and one-third old manure in a thoroughly 

 mellow condition. Plant a few seeds singly in small 

 pots, and plunge them into the bed ; they wdll be 

 up in a week, and soon large enough to plant in the 

 lights, one plant in the centre of each mole-hill. 

 Fill up the bed three wrecks after planting with 

 loam, to the depth of six inches, and pinch the 

 leader out of the plants w^hen the second leaf can 

 be seen, and peg the young bines, which break away 

 over the surface in such wise that the frame will fill 

 quickly. 



The plants will not require much water at first, 

 but when bearing freely they must have liquid man- 

 ure once or twice a week, according to the weather. 



If the soil is moist, as it should be, at planting 

 little water will be needed, except to sprinkle the 

 leaves in the afternoon of each day about 3 P.M. ; 

 the water should be tepid — never colder than 

 the heat inside the frame or house. When the 

 plants are eighteen inches high, pinch out the point 

 of each to induce side shoots to form, and where 

 these are one foot longer, pinch them also, following 

 up this treatment as long as the plants are growing. 

 Remove all weak shoots, and cut away occasionally 

 a few leaves to give light and air to the plants. 

 Air should be admitted freely, yet carefully, to the 

 plants, and foliage should not be cut unnecessarily. 

 If possible, keep up a temperature of 60°, allowing 



