510 AMERICAN HOME GARDEN. 



rying condition of the weather and the consequent necessities 

 of the plants. 



Hill them slightly as they grow, and apply light dressings 

 of liquid manure from time to time to the hills and around 

 them, but in these and the ordinary waterings avoid much wet- 

 ting upon the stems or leaves of the plants. 



As the vines extend it will become necessary to nip their 

 points for the purpose of thickening the bearing growth, caus- 

 ing them to branch from near the root, and also afterward to 

 " stop" them when they reach the sides of the frame, and, 

 again, to prevent their becoming over-thickened by their young 

 side branches, which must be kept thinned out when the fruit 

 is forming or in growth ; the number of fruit upon each plant 

 must also be limited if you desire to have them fine; and 

 when as many as you wish to have are set, nip all subsequent 

 blossoms before they open. 



The general temperature of the hot bed, or pit, should range 

 from 60 to 80 degrees, and this range be continued as uniform- 

 ly as possible. In order to secure this object, in addition to 

 the daily care in airing, etc., it may be found necessary to 

 " line the bed," that is, when the heat of the bed itself de- 

 clines, to bank fresh heating manure to the thickness of one 

 or two feet all around it in the same careful manner as the 

 hot bed was built at first, repeating this operation time after 

 time if found necessary, cutting away and removing all the old 

 manure from the outside of the frame so as to bring the new 

 warmth as nearly as possible into contact with the body of the 

 bed which it surrounds ; if thought needful, this lining may 

 be raised above the level of the bed so as to reach nearly to 

 the upper edge of the frame, with a slope to throw the water 

 away from it in rainy weather. 



When raised in a " cucumber pit," heated either with ma- 

 nure, or hot water, or steam, these vegetable fruits are not un- 

 frequently trained upon trellises, being carefully and pretty 

 closely pruned, and strictly limited to their proper space, by 

 which system some room is gained, and the hanging fruit is 

 also ornamental. 



Almost every variety of garden vegetable may be and is 



