284 Culture of the Cucumber. 



stances that so imperatively called for them are, in all probability, 

 reversed, and any extra excitement useless. The management 

 of these beds, therefore, independently of the risk of losing the 

 plants, becomes a matter of difficulty, incompatible with economy, 

 and renders a moderate dung heat, and the means of adding in 

 cases of exigency by something producing immediate effect, 

 most desirable ; and the cost of materials requisite to form a 

 single lining would purchase fuel enough to procure a crop of 

 cucumbers during a whole season. But then the cost of an 

 apparatus to effect this stands out as a bugbear, and to have a 

 good one would no doubt cost a trifle; still, it is no such deadly 

 affair, as I may prove by an expedient that I was forced to adopt 

 in January, 183S„ 



It will be in the recollection of many, that 1837, up to its 

 close, was unusually mild, the external thermometer at Christmas 

 being about 50°, followed by an unexampled severity that sunk 

 the temperature to zero in a few days. With an external 

 temperature of 50°, my bed was in the best possible condition; 

 but the sudden change produced a sad reverse, requiring an 

 immediate remedy. In my search to find something to accom- 

 plish this, I fell in with an old circular sheet-iron stove, such 

 as was formerly used in workshops, &c, having a piece of cast iron 

 placed upon the grating to hold the fuel. As the case was 

 desperate, I had this piece of cast iron taken out, and a tin 

 boiler of the same form substituted ; to this, as usual, a flue and 

 return-pipe were attached, and a small cistern, as feeder, placed 

 upon the top, as represented in the accompanying section. 

 (Jig. 27-) The pipes, that a small surface might be exposed 

 to the open air, were only 1 in. in diameter, until they entered 

 the frame, when they were joined to others 3 in. in diameter. 

 The whole of this was constructed and at work within a few 

 hours of the time that it was projected, at a cost of 155., the 

 stove excluded ; and, although made of such materials, to meet 

 the exigencies of the moment, it lasted the rest of that, and the 

 whole of the following season, performing its work admirably, 

 and that at a cost for fuel not worth mentioning ; indeed, there 

 is more thrown upon the rubbish heap during a season, in any 

 household, than would amply suffice for such a purpose. Coals, 

 from their tendency to cake, burn hollow, and so go out, are not 

 manageable. Cinders, with a mixture of coal-dust, chips of 

 wood, and old tan to make up with, do best; and, as the water 

 in the boiler is in no place more than from half to three quarters 

 of an inch in thickness, incredibly little fire is required to rriake 

 the water boil, which may be accomplished in a few minutes, and 

 the fire then damped and left for twelve hours. So little fire 

 being required, it is hardly possible to keep the water from 

 boiling, and a frequent supply to keep the pipes full is requisite ; 



