and the Forcing of the Cucumber. 85 



roots proceed ; and the plants grow much more stocky and 

 strong, and are less liable to damp off. A light sprinkling of 

 Avater should be given, and the sashes closed, that a gentle 

 steam may be generated, which will greatly refresh the 

 plants. This operation should be performed in the middle 

 of the afternoon of a fair day. 



24th. The sudden change of the weather since yester- 

 day, has caused a decline of the heat in the bed, and four 

 barrows of fresh manure were added to-day ; the ends of the 

 roots of the plants having protruded through the soil, and 

 shown themselves on the surface, more earth was drawn 

 up round the hills, and the plants sparingly Avatered. Tem- 

 perature, 60°, G0°, 60° ; of the soil 70°. 



27th. The second rough leaves of the plants begin to 

 show themselves to-day ; the heat of the bed having be- 

 come very brisk, since the addition of the last manure, the 

 plants are growing rapidly ; the weather being more mode- 

 rate, considerable air was admitted. The pan for contain- 

 ing water should be kept constantly filled, ready for use. 



March 1st. During the last month the covering was taken 

 off of the bed, between nine and ten o'clock in the morning, 

 according to the severity of the weather ; but oftener at the 

 latter than at the former hour ; it was also covered up 

 as soon as the sun's rays left the sashes. During this 

 month, the sun shining with greater power, it should be un- 

 covered as early as nine o'clock in the morning, the former, 

 and at half past eight, the latter, part of the month, and 

 should be covered in the afternoon, as early as fi.ve o'clock 

 in the former, and at half past five the latter, part of the 

 month. A quantity of leaf mould and loam should, on the 

 first opportunity, be collected together, and in readiness to 

 earth round the plants. No kind of soil answers so well for 

 cucumbers, during the first month of their growth, as decay- 

 ed leaves; indeed, we have seen it alone recommended as 

 the best throughout the growth of the plants, from the sow- 

 ing of the seed to the maturing of the fruit : we have, 

 however, always found that the the plants run too much to 

 vines in such a soil, and, although the fruit was the largest, 

 of the deepest tint of green, and in every way superior, 

 both as regards appearance and quality, still we believe a 

 small portion of light loam added to the above named soil, 

 when the plants have been hilled out a week or two, renders 

 the vines more prolific of fruit, and less luxuriant and rapid 

 in their growth. We have measured leaves on our vines 

 Jifteen inches in diameter. We once had the pleasure of 

 showing our plants, when in a vigorous state of growth, to 

 an excellent practical gardener, who had grown cucumbers 

 for many years ; he appeared astonished at their luxuriance. 



