4 PREFACE, 



how to produce cucumbers fo early as a near 

 neighbour, or fo early as they were required 

 in the family ; for although I could, with much 

 labour and great attention, preferve the plants 

 alive through the winter, yet when the fpring 

 came, they were fo weak and feeble that they 

 were not able to produce fruit early, or in any 

 quantity. 



I was advifed to apply for help to my neigh- 

 bour, who, I was informed, had fome fecret 

 method of promoting vegetation in winter, and 

 which, as is faid, was firft found out and prac- 

 tifed about Southgate, and that no perfon was 

 to be let into this fecret without paying a cer- 

 tain fum of money. The paying a little money 

 for fuch a clever thing I had no objection to ; 

 but I w^as rather loth to have it faid that I fhould 

 be taught by one who, it might be expeded, I 

 ought to be capable of teaching : This, how- 

 ever, was only a piece of pride, over which, 

 on due confideration, I for once obtained a 

 vidory. Accordingly I made application to 

 my neighbour and brother-gardener, who rea- 

 dily confented to difclofe to me the fecret on 

 condition that I fhould pay him five guineas ; 

 and fo a bargain was made with feeming good 

 will on both fides. 



The 



