386 Culture of the Cucumber at Stoke Place, 



eight seats and fourteen tables, covering a space twelve yards long by seven 

 yards wide ; thus forming in itself alone, when in leaf, one large and um- 

 brageous arbour. It is needless to add that this tree belongs to the inn. Of 

 the seats and tables mentioned, fourteen seats and seven tables, each about 

 two yards long, occupy one side of the arbour, and as many the other; and 

 there is a walk up the middle for the convenience of access to the two 

 sides. The stem of the tree is in the centre of the arbour, and carefully pre- 

 served from injury by a box-like frame, the boards of which are perforated 

 towards the bottom to admit air. The extremities of the branches already 

 extend beyond the roof of the arbour, and are trained to the side trellises. The 

 tree is a beautiful specimen, and in full health and vigour. 



Has the remarkably large Drooping Ash which the Duke of Devonshire, a 

 few years ago, transplanted from the nursery of Messrs. Wilson, near Derby, 

 into the grounds at Chatsworth, thriven since the transplantation ? The tree, 

 according to the newspapers, was fifty years old when removed, and, with 

 itself and the earth about its roots, weighed nearly eight tons. " Some of the 

 roots extended 28 ft., and the branches measured 37 ft, from the centre." 

 Forty labourers and several horses were occupied in removing it from the 

 ground, and loading it upon the machine used for transporting it. — In p. 180., 

 but particularly in p. 408., it appears that seeds of the drooping ash sown 

 have not been known to produce plants with drooping branches, but always 

 with erect ones. — J. D. June, 1834. 



Art. XIII. On the Culture of the Cucumber at Stoke Place, toith a 

 Ground Plan and Elevation of the Pits in Use there. By Mr. 

 Patrick. 



I send you herewith a ground plan and elevation of my 

 cucumber pits ; and I think the plan on which they are con- 

 structed one of the neatest and most simple that I have met 

 with. I have no doubt but those who choose to adopt this 

 method will find it the easiest to work, and the most successful 

 of any plans which have heretofore been tried ; and it combines 

 economy with neatness, as the heat can be kept up with one 

 third less dung than is usually employed. Whoever tries this 

 plan will, no doubt, succeed, as there is no danger whatever of 

 either burning the roots or steaming the plants. 



I am aware that many gardeners will think my pits too small ; 

 but I can assure them that there is ample room for the plants to 

 grow, and to continue in perfect health with a plentiful crop all 

 the summer season ; and, provided they are properly managed, 

 six lights of these pits will be sufficient for the supply of any 

 moderate family, from the beginning of January to the middle of 

 summer. Pits of this size have a decided advantage over larger 

 ones for early work, as you can keep up in them at all times a 

 quicker and more lively heat, and with much less expense, than 

 if they were larger ; because, the larger the lights or pits are, 

 the stronger the linings will require to be. You will see, by the 

 plan (fig. 74.), that a range constructed as I propose has an 

 open space, between each three lights, of 12 in. wide, so that 



