CUCUMBER. 83 



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a one-light frame for the seed-bed, a two-light 

 one for pricking out the young plants and nursing 

 them in, and two or more two-light frames for their 

 fruiting in ; but they may be cultivated very well, 

 on a small scale, with one or two small frames, or 

 proper pits. 



What has been said on the preparation of the 

 dung under the head of asparagus, holds good in 

 respect of the cucumber, but more so from the 

 very tender nature of the plant, and the untoward 

 season (December and January) in which the cu- 

 cumber seed is generally sown. This is the most 

 perplexing and difficult operation of the season, 

 and, if well got over, with strong and healthy 

 plants, the cultivator may look forward with every 

 probability of success ; at least the author has found 

 it to be the case in very many instances, during a 

 practice of seventy years. 



For the seed-bed (an essential matter) in either 

 of the months above mentioned, sufficient fresh 

 horse-dung, say three or four good cart-loads, should 

 be procured, to make up a strong hot-bed for a one 

 light frame or box, as the gardeners call it ; which, 

 if large enough, will be sufficient to produce plants 

 for six or nine-lights. The dung being in readiness, 

 it should be laid in a heap for five or six days, and, 

 in the interim, turned over two or three times. 

 Should heavy rain or snow fall at the time, some 

 sort of temporary covering with mats, fern, or such 

 like will be necessary, to protect it from being too 

 much saturated with moisture, which brings on a 

 fiery heat at first, but slackens too soon afterwards. 

 Care, however, should always be taken, that the 

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