88 On the Consirucimi of Brick Pits. 



should have two or three pails of Avater added to each, and 

 the whole, when thrown into the pit, well forked together. 

 We have occasionally opened the doors, and thrown in sev- 

 eral pails of water, and after the whole was well forked up, 

 the heat would be brisk for four or five days. This should 

 not be forgotten, as it is a saving of considerable manure, 

 where it is not easily to be had, but is brought from a con- 

 siderable distance. 



23d. Heat very brisk. Temperature, 69°, 86°, 76° ; of 

 the soil, 85°. Plants in a vigorous condition, and some 

 flower buds almost expanded. A barrow full of compost of 

 the same kind as before used was added to the bed. Water 

 freely supplied to the plants in fine weather. Some small 

 pegs must now be prepared, to fasten down the vines, as 

 they proceed in growth; this practice is very benejficial to 

 the successful cultivation of the cucumber, as, in the latter 

 part of the forcing, when the vines have filled the bed, the 

 roots, which are thrown out into the soil at every joint, 

 where pegged down, greatly assist in giving additional food 

 and nourishment to the plants as they extend. The old 

 portion of the vines near the root sometimes becomes can- 

 kery, and in particular when this is the case, the fibres at 

 the joints afford that support which is cut off from the main 

 roots. These pegs may be made of any small pieces of brush, 

 by taking the part where the branches fork out. Use one at 

 every joint. 



27th. The weather has become very moderate ; the 

 thermometer, in the open air, indicating 70°. The heat of 

 the bed has been well retained, and less covering at night 

 required. The roots of the vines have again appeared, and 

 the soil was drawn round the hills to the thickness of about 

 three inches, fully covering all the extreme fibres of the 

 roots : it is astonishing with what rapidity they now extend 

 themselves : Ave have seen them run through a thickness 

 of soil of one inch during the night. One or two staminate 

 (or male) blossoms opened to-day, and several buds, with 

 embryo fruit, are nearly ready to expand. Temperature, 

 70°, 76°, 70° ; of the soil, 82°. 



30th. Removed three barrows of manure, and added 

 three of fresh. The pistillate (or female) flowers, those 

 which show the embryo fruit, have opened to-day, and the 

 operation of "setting the fruit," as it is generally termed, 

 was performed. The propriety of this operation having 

 been disputed by many, and as there are various opinions 

 respecting its usefulness, we intend to make some remarks 

 in relation to it ; but, as we have extended this communi- 

 cation to a greater length than we expected, or than we 

 have space, at the present time, we leave it until a future 

 opportunity. 



{To be continued.) 



