43O THE FORCING GARDEN. 



ing about the second or third week in the month, as 

 hinted at above. Observe to sow old seeds, not 

 those saved this season, which would run more to 

 vines than to fruit. 



Let the pit be prepared for their reception, by 

 trenching up the bark or dung, and by adding fresh 

 materials, in so far as to produce a moderate, grow- 

 ing heat ; observing the directions given for prepar- 

 ing the pit for the melons in July, and moulding it 

 (with proper cucumber earth however) all over, to 

 the depth of a foot or fourteen inches. 



The plants may be placed closer in planting them 

 out, than is necessary in a spring hot-bed. They 

 may be planted at the distance of a yard from one 

 another, and two rows lengthwise in the pit, as 

 they will not grow very vigorously at this late sea- 

 son. 



They should be moderately supplied with water 

 once in four or five days, and should always be wa- 

 tered over the foliage ; the more especially when 

 strong fire-heat becomes necessary, as cucumbers 

 naturally like a moist, rather than a dry heat. 



The temperature should be kept up to about 64 

 or 65 Q in the night, by the aid of the flues, and by 

 matting, or otherwise covering the pit. Air should 

 be as freely admitted as the state of the weather 

 will allow ; and so as to keep the mercury down, 

 in sunshine, to about 70. 



The plants will require little other pruning than 

 to stop the vines, as they shew fruit, at a joint or 

 two above it ; for they will not push many super- 

 fluous shoots. Observe to pick off all damped leaves 



