416 Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 



whole orchard, giving one dusting just before the blossoms 

 were expanded, and one or two after the blossoms were over 

 and the leaves expanded. 



The same utensil may be used for dusting powdered brim- 

 stone on trees or plants infested with the mildew, or for 

 scattering salt, tobacco-dust, &c. 



11. On forcing Cucumbers. In a Letter to the Secretary. By 

 JVir. Thomas Allen, F.H.S. Read January 4. 1825. 



In growing cucumbers under lights, " the most obvious 

 defects," according to Mr. Allen, are " compost of too light 

 a quality," and " dung not sufficiently worked before it is 

 earthed over." Mr. A. has been in the habit of growing early 

 cucumbers under frames on common dung beds for twenty 

 years, always producing abundance of fruit from March till 

 October. In 1823 he worked seventy lights for the London 

 market, the produce of which was 3360 cucumbers, or four 

 dozen to a light, " a greater product than is usually obtained 

 by any of the ordinary methods of treatment." The beds are 

 made in December or January, the hot horse-dung having 

 been previously turned and watered five or six times. Before 

 earthing it, round flat mats about fifteen inches in diameter, 

 formed by coiling up a band of straw one inch in diameter 

 and ten feet long, are to be prepared and placed on the dung, 

 under the centre of each light. Rye straw is preferred for 

 these mats, as it does not encourage mice. A* bushel of com- 

 post, consisting of loam and rotten dung, is placed on each 

 mat, and one plant, in preference to more, on the top of each 

 hillock. - The top of the plant- should be left three inches from 

 the glass ; the mould should then be dressed up round the 

 hillock and be pressed close to the roots, and within one inch 

 of the seed leaves of the plant : these, at no time of earthing, 

 should, be covered, for this is very apt to cause canker. The 

 earth should be kept within the bounds of the straw mat, and 

 not be suffered to mix with the dung, as that would cause a 

 burning, which is not only troublesome, but in many instances 

 iatal to the prosperity of the plant; because, if the earth is 

 once burnt, its vegetative quality is destroyed, and water will 

 have no effect on it. The only remedy in such a case is to 

 remove the mould, fork up and water the dung, lay on a little 

 rye straw, and replace the earth. 



After ridging out, from one quarter to one inch of air is 

 given in the day, and about one quarter during the night. 

 The covering must be very slight for the first three or four 

 weeks, and must not hang over the sides. 



" The heat must be kept up by augmenting the linings once a 

 week, turning over and watering them, when they heat so as to 



