New Principles of Gardening. 
generally large, and not fit to be eaten, excepting by fuch Per. 
tons whofe Stomachs are very hot. 
6. The Quantity to be eaten is at Pleafure. 
But herein obferve, that ’tis better to eat too few, than too 
many; and if your Stomach will bear, to eat a good many 
Onions fliced amongft them, ‘tis much better than to-eat them 
alone. 
7. Their Cultivation. . 
The Cucumbers that are eaten inthis Seafon, being raifed on 
Hot-Beds, I fhall now proceed to give proper Directions for 
the Performance of the fame as practifed by every good Gar- 
diner, who raifes this Fruit. 
The firft Work to be done, is ‘to prepare a Parcel of frefh 
Horfe-Dung and Sea-Coal Afhes, as direé&ted for the forcing of 
Afparagus, Set. II. and about the End of December, or Begin- 
ning of Fanuary, make a very ftrong Bed, of fuch a ‘breadth 
and length, as may exceed the Bignefs of your Frame about 
fix Inches all round, and three Feet and a Half or four Feet 
high, when fettled. And in the making of this Seed-Bed, ob- 
ferve that the Dung be equally fettled with the Fork, but not 
trod down, .as is ufual, for that caufes the Bed to fire and bura 
very much on a fudden, which when:over lofes its Heat prefent- 
ly, and chills the Plants: Whereas on the contrary, if a Bed be 
made, as directed for the forcing of Afparagus, its Heat will 
come.gradually, and endure a very long Time. 
About two Days after the Bed is made, place on the Frame 
and Lights, and fix or eight Daysafter that, earth the Bed with 
dry, rich, light Mould, preferv'd from the Winter's Rain in fome 
Out-Houfe, ce. 
The Thicknefs of Mould need:not exceed feven or eight In- 
ches, which, the Day after earthing, will have received a fuffici- 
ent Heat for the fowing of your Seed, which is beft done in 
little Drills about an Inch deep, at about two Inches afunder ; 
and if the Weather is not very cold, I would advife that 
you cover the Lights every Night very thinly; for as the Bed is 
now coming into its Heat, if you fhould cover very thick, as 
many do, you would fet the Bed on fire by drawing its Heat up 
fo very haftily, which clofe covering never fails of -doing. 
F 2 
35 
