CUCUMBER. 95 



The best materials are recommended to be used ; 

 the mortar should not be made up with too much 

 sand, and the outer wall should be nine-inch work, 

 as it is principally to support the earth surrounding 

 the pit on which it is built. 



For the erection of a three-light frame-pit, a dry 

 level spot of ground should be chosen (the more 

 sheltered the better) fully exposed to the south ; 

 let a piece be measured off, and a square hole dug 

 out to the depth of three feet, and of sufficient 

 length and breadth, (say to contain a pit of open 

 brick-work, ten feet long and four feet broad,) leav- 

 ing a clear space of eighteen inches for the linings 

 round the whole ; and as it will be necessary to have 

 an outer wall to prevent the earth from falling in, it 

 should be certainly nine-inch work as before noticed, 

 and consequently a sufficient clearance of the 

 ground should be made to admit the outer wall 

 to the necessary breadth. 



After the bottom is properly levelled, it should be 

 paved ; in the centre build a pit of open work, the 

 length and breadth above-mentioned, taking care 

 that the bricks are laid edgeways. When the open 

 brick-work is carried up to its intended height, the 

 space below should be cleared, as nothing further 

 will be wanted in it but the heat from the linings, 

 which, if required, may be kept up to 80 without 

 danger of burning or scorching, as the platform 

 hereafter mentioned will be a security against that. 

 When the whole of the open brick-work is carried 

 up, and previous to laying on the last courses which 

 will be worked close, iron bars should be in readi- 

 ness one-inch broad and half an inch thick, and of 



