144 A YEAR'S WORK IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



economical either in fuel or in labour. A building thirty feet long, by 

 twelve feet wide, six feet high at the sides, and eight and a half feet 

 high at the ridge, will not only grow Cucumbers and Melons, but 

 will also be of immense service for many other plants. A division 

 across the middle by a wall rising four feet, surmounted with a glass 

 screen fitted to the roof, and finished with a door partially of glass, 

 will greatly augment its usefulness. There should be an alley down 

 the centre four or five feet wide, bounded by walls reaching four 

 feet above the floor. These walls should be nine inches thick for 

 two feet six inches of their height, but for the upper parts the brick- 

 work should only be four and a half inches thick. Thus a ledge will 

 be left on the inner side of each wall. The main walls should also 

 have ledges corresponding in height, upon which slates can be laid 

 to carry the soil. There should be a space of about an inch between 

 each slate to insure drainage, and by putting tiles or an inverted turf 

 over every opening, the soil cannot be washed away. The hot-water 

 pipes will be in chambers immediately beneath the plants. To these 

 chambers access must be obtained by openings, fitted with sliding 

 doors, in the alley walls. The heat can then be admitted direct into 

 the house whenever it may be desirable. Ventilation should be pro- 

 vided for under the ridge at each end, as well as in the roof. In 

 such a house it is easy to grow Cucumbers all the year round, except, 

 perhaps, in the dead of winter, when the short dark days render the 

 task difficult, no matter how perfect the appliances may be. The 

 division in the centre will be found valuable at all times, and especi- 

 ally when one set of plants is failing ; for another set can be brought 

 into bearing exactly when wanted. But whatever the structure may 

 be, the mode of culture will be substantially the same in any case. 

 As to soil, then. A compost made of mellow turfy loam and leaf- 

 mould in equal parts will be effective and sweet. In the absence of 

 leaf-mould, use two parts of loam and one of thoroughly decayed 

 manure, with a few pieces of charcoal added. Sweetness is not ab- 

 solutely necessary for success, but nevertheless we like to have it, so 

 that a visit to the Cucumber house may be a source of pleasure. 

 This it cannot be if rank manure has been used. Raise the seed, 

 singly in small 6o-pots, and sow enough, for however good the seed, 

 some is almost sure to fail at this critical period. Give the 

 plants one shift into the 48-size, to keep them going until they are 

 ready for putting into the beds. Cucumbers grow with great rapidity, 

 and should never know a check, least of all by starvation. Upon 

 the slates make as many heaps of soil as are required, and in the 



