Allen on cultivating the Melon, tyc. 1 53 



paper as we sell for 6d., independently of our engravings. On 

 looking over the work, we find that Mr. Allen's seed bed " is 

 made up in the third week of October, and that it is a common 

 bed," with long manure at the bottom and rotten manure at the top, 

 &c. To maintain a beautiful dark green foliage on the cucumber 

 plant during winter, it is recommended to make up new beds, 

 and remove the plants into them ; or to refresh the interior of 

 the old ones in the following manner : — "In the middle of 

 November, although there is a lively heat in the bed, the air of 

 the frame (more particularly in foggy weather) is found to be in 

 a very impure and unwholesome state. In such cases, after two 

 or three successive dull and foggy days, and [during which] the 

 lights have been kept continually close, on the first fine day after, 

 take the lights off; [then] place a hand-light over the pots of 

 plants ; take a sponge and wash the inside of the frame all round ; 

 wipe it dry; and, if the weather permits, the lights may remain 

 off an hour or two. A little cold will not signify; it will make 

 the plants hardy. Stir the mould, wash the lights, and put them 

 on the frame; distribute the pots about the bed, and, the impure 

 air which had collected during the foggy days being entirely 

 obliterated [dispersed], the plants will show visible signs that 

 they are in a more healthy atmosphere. Although V. C. has 

 been attached to my name, M.D. has not ; but, I think, every 

 one will see how feasible the following observation is : — Where 

 an invalid has been confined to one room for several weeks, 

 perhaps months, when a fresh person enters that room, the im- 

 pure air is instantly discovered, which has collected by the room 

 being so much confined. Is it not possible that a fresh room, 

 well aired and warmed, would prove beneficial to the invalid, if 

 removal was possible?" (p. 4.) 



This idea of purifying the air of a cucumber frame appears to 

 us rational, though, we believe, the good effected is not so much 

 by purifying the air ; that is, removing from it any deleterious 

 gases or poisonous matters held in suspension ; as by getting rid 

 of that excess of moisture which air in hotbeds always contains 

 in the winter season. Hence it is that cucumbers do so well in 

 the winter season in hot-houses, where the air is always drier 

 than in frames. 



Under the head of " Peculiar System of Cultivation " (p. 10.), 

 we were surprised to find so little that can be considered pecu- 

 liar. The following sentence, however, may perhaps come under 

 this head : — " After a fruit has been impregnated two days (for 

 I have proved that to be the best and most proper age to direct 

 all virtue to the fruit), by pinching out the eye at the fruit, the 

 one before and after, and stopping the runner, is the way in 

 which my fruit has been made to run so far before my neighbours'. 

 If this operation is performed before the fruit is two days old, it 



