CUCUMBER. 87 



gree. The light should then be closed down, and 

 if the sun happens to shine about mid-day, a very 

 slight covering of hay will be necessary for an hour 

 or two ; and unless there is much steam in the bed, 

 the light may be kept close till the morning, and if 

 covered (which most likely the season will require), 

 the covering must be taken off early ; and in exa- 

 mining the bed, if much steam has risen, it should 

 be let out as before noticed. 



About this time the heat of the bed should be 

 examined, and if it be diminished, which is readily 

 discovered by plunging into it a thermometer (an 

 instrument the author never of late used in frame- 

 work, as he trusted to experience), to a few degrees 

 below 70 of Fahrenheit, a fresh lining of well-pre- 

 pared hot dung must be laid against the back and 

 front sides, about eighteen inches thick ; care being 

 taken that none of the outward steam gets inside 

 the frame. In looking over the plants, and observ- 

 ing them to be dry, a little water should be given 

 towards the middle of the day.; and at the same 

 time, if roots are found to issue from the stems 

 or otherwise, nearly a full earthing may be given to 

 the plants in the pots, and a full plunging in the 

 bed, the other two sides of which, if not of a full 

 sufficient heat, must be lined. This will most likely 

 bring the plants on until they are taken out for 

 their final planting. The author always gave the 

 preference to his first seed-bed, provided the in- 

 ternal warmth could be kept to its proper height ; 

 otherwise a new bed must be prepared, similar to 

 the one above mentioned. 



As soon as it appears that the plants have clearly 



G 4 



