OF THE CUCUMBER. 55 



In the fhort days In winter little or no water is re- 

 quired, for the continual evaporation arifmg in the 

 frames, and perfpiration of the plants caught by the 

 glalTes, keeps dropping down again upon the mould, 

 and, in fome degree, imitates a natural watering from 

 the clouds, and which is of fervice to the plants. 

 Hence it would feem that the plants are often watered 

 with the fame water. 



The mould in the pits retains the moifture furprif- 

 ingly, which perhaps may be owing in fome mea- 

 fure to the pits being conftantly furrounded with the 

 moid: fleam of the hnings ; and the bricks of the 

 pits, and the tiles that cover the flues, being porous 

 for aught I know, moifture, by the force of evapora- 

 tion or attraction, gets through them into the frames. 

 But be that as it may, I know that nothing hurtful 

 or unhealthy ever gets through the tiles or bricks into 

 the frames among the plants. The quantity of water 

 requifite to be given to the plants depends upon the 

 heat of the bed, the ftrength and age of the plants, 

 and alfo on the temperature of the weather. When 

 the weather is cold, wet, or gloomy, and the air 

 moift, they require lefs water than when the weather 

 is clear, and the air more dry. 



If too much water be given, it will hinder the 

 fruit from fetting and fwelling kindly ; and if too 

 little water be given, the plants will grow weak, and 

 the fru't hollow. 



I never wifh to water the plants with water warmer 



than S^ degrees, nor colder than 6^. Although, 



' in general, I try by the thermometer the warmth of 



the 



