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When I cultivated the cucumber on beds made of 

 dung, early in the fpring I was frequently obliged 

 to (hade the plants from the rays of the fun, to pre- 

 vent their leaves from flagging; but fhading the 

 plants fo early, is a great hindrance to them. 



When the cucumber plant cannot ftand the fun, 

 but droops its leaves when his rays dart themfelves 

 upon it, the plant is not in a good ftate of health, 

 or clfe air has been let in to the frames too fuddenly, 

 or in too great a quantity, or it wants water : If a 

 cucumber plant be in a good ftate of health, the rays 

 of the fun may fcorch its leaves, but they will not 

 caufe the plant to flag ; for the greater heat his rays 

 dart upon it, the more upright will its leaves ftand ; 

 for much heat makes the juices flow rapidly^ and 

 thereby the veifels of the plant, being filled with the 

 vegetative juices, are diftended, and the eredion of 

 the leaves of the plant greatly promoted. 



It is not abfolutely neceflary to ufe thermometers 

 in the cucumber frames : I myfelf, and many others, 

 can manage the bed and frames very well without 

 them, efpecially without one plunged in the mould. 

 It may then be faid, why do I ufe them ? I anfwer, 

 firft for my own pleafure and fatisfadion j and fe- 

 €ondly, in order that I might the better give to 

 every on^ who chufes to read, an opportunity of 

 being able to approve or difapprove of my mode of 

 management ; And whether, in general opinion, the 

 fcale turn to approbation or difapprobation, yet the 

 fame caufe will always produce the fame effect ; and, 

 therefore, if any perfon chufes to keep the heat of 



B 2 his 



