and the Forcing of the Cucumber. 123 



in April,) would greatly injure the future health of the plants. 

 Temperature of the bed, 65°, 76°, 72° ; of the soil, 78°. 



6th. The heat of the bed having decreased, from the last three 

 or four days of cooler weather, two barrows of the old manure were 

 removed, and four of fresh added. The whole was well forked up, 

 and the doors closely shut. This should never be neglected ; im- 

 mediately after the manure is thrown in, at any time, they should 

 be closed, and straw or hay placed in front of them and against 

 the crevices all round ; this should be kept up, as before mentioned, 

 by a wide board or plank. When the straw or hay, from contin- 

 ued wet, becomes rotten, it should be replaced by a fresh lot. 

 Some of the blossoms with embryo fruit, which had been fertilized, 

 from too much moisture in the bed, damped off; but those which 

 have been since attended too, now swell their fruit rapidly. The 

 plants have now acquired considerable size, and extend themselves 

 very fast : all the joints are regularly pegged down as before re- 

 commended. Continue to stop the runners at every joint, as this 

 will cause the vines to throw out more fruit, and acquire greater 

 vigor. Temperature, 62°, 75°, 78° ; of the soil, 78°. 



10th. The roots of the plants having penetrated through the 

 soil in the hills, a sufficient quantity was now added to make the 

 whole in the bed level ; for this purpose, it should be composed of 

 loam, old decayed manure, and leaf mould, in about equal quanti- 

 ties. Let only a portion of it be put in at a time, early in the 

 afternoon, if the weather is cool, and there is any danger of chill- 

 ing the temperature of the bed ; but in mild weather, there 

 need be no apprehension of injury, and the whole may be put in 

 at once ; be careful, in doing this, not to break the leaves of the 

 plants, and thus cause them to bleed. They will now require 

 water every day, which should be given as soon as the sun's rays 

 leave the sashes ; it should be warmed to the temperature of the 

 air in the bed, and be given over the plants through a very fine 

 rose, lightly sprinkling the whole of the surface of the soil, so as 

 to raise a gentle steam. Air should be admitted in greater quanti- 

 ty as the spring advances, and during warm days, the sashes 

 should be opened at the front as well as the back, so as to allow of 

 a draft of air through the bed. Numerous blossoms expand every 

 day, and due attention must be given, and every pistillate one fer- 

 tilized, or the fruit will not swell kindly. Let it be a rule to go 

 over the vines every moi'ning about 8 or 9 o'clock. Temperature, 

 70°, 80°, 68° ; of the soil, 85°. 



14th. The first two fruits which appeared, having grown to 

 their full size, they were cut to-day. Their average length was 

 eight inches ; those which appear first do not generally acquire the 

 size of the later ones. The heat in the bed has also decreased, 

 and thus prevented their full growth ; the temperature should nev- 

 er be allowed to fall but a degree or two after the fruit appears, or 



