98 The Gardf.ner.*s New Director. 



the depth of three inches in the dung, and within an inch 

 or two of one another, hlHng them ahiioft to the brim 

 with tlie compoft, and the fpaccs between the bafkets 

 with good rich mould. In four or five days, the earth 

 in the baflcets will be ready to receive the plants, to the 

 number of fix in each, to be planted about the hour of 

 three o'clock in the afternoon; obferving to water them 

 the preceding day, about eight o'clock in the morning, 

 in order, that the earth about their roots may be fixed 

 to them; this will fo prote£l their fibres, that their 

 growth will not fufl'er by the frequent tranfplanting that 

 is neceffary ; a fcooped trowell will be the befi: thing to 

 move them with ; and when the fun is off the bed, fix the 

 mould to them, raifing it to their feed-leaves, gently 

 watering them, ufing your matts and woollen fliutters, 

 and obferving to exclude the fun's rays for a week after 

 planting : you mulT: likewife be careful to cover your 

 dung, that projcdis beyond the frame with earth, to con- 

 fine the fteam, as not any thing can be more injurious 

 to your cucumbers ; in the day-time raife the glafles to 

 give them air. In about three weeks the plants will fhew 

 their male bloffoms, and begin to fet fruit: delay not 

 then to make a frefti hot-bed of three lights, with 

 great care, turning the dung well, leaving no clods, and 

 mixing the dung and litter with fome fine coal-afhes, 

 which is of ufe to retain the heat long and moderate in 

 the beds, and as foon as it is in good temper to receive the 

 bafkets, draw out three of the weakeft plant?, leaving 

 three of the mofl: forward, then fet the bafltets under 

 the centre of each light, and in two days let them be 

 filled with new earth, covering the glafs at night with 

 matts, and ufing the woollen fhutters as before; by this 

 renewal of heat, the fruit will fwell in three weeks to 

 he fit for ufe. At this time, do not neglect every oppor- 

 tunity to give them air and good watering, whenever 

 they require it. The runners may be fuft"cred to flioot at 

 pleafure, and never offer to pinch or top them; with 

 this management, I have had fine large cucumbers for 

 flicing, by the end of March. 



It has been obferved, that, notu'ithflanding all the 

 care and heat that can be given thefe early plants, they 

 wdl not produce fruit oi a tolerable hie, before they drop 



off; 



