THE CUCUMBER. 253 



in moderately-drained 4-inch pots, in a compost of 

 two parts light friable loam and one part leaf-mould. 

 With this fin the pots half full, and sow two seeds in 

 each, covering them to the depth of half an inch ; and 

 do not give any water for the present. Plunge the pots 

 one-half their depth in the hed, for the bottom-heat 

 will be strong at first. If watered and plunged deeply 

 in the strong heat, germination is forced on too quickly, 

 and the result is a pale and weakly seedling. In plac- 

 ing the pots, let them incline towards the south, so that 

 when the sun does shine it may reach the young plants 

 as soon as they are through the soil ;' and to the same 

 end see that the glass is kept clean, for light at this 

 season is of first-rate importance. When the weather 

 is mild, uncover the glass the first thing in the morning, 

 but cover up in the evening before the temperature 

 recedes too much. Give more or less air night and day, 

 according to the state of the weather, ranging the heat 

 about 70". When the air is frosty, hang a piece of 

 canvas or wollen netting over the back of the frame 

 when air is on, so as to prevent currents of cold air. 



I have always found that the genial heat of the 

 frame and the absence of sunshine at this season render 

 watering unnecessary, and in fact injurious, until the 

 plants have expanded their first rough leaves. When 

 the young plants have expanded their seed-lobes and 

 grown to the level of the mouth of the pots, earth them 

 up an inch or so with the same compost in which they 

 were sown, warmed to the temperature of the frame ; 

 and when the rough leaves are formed, fill up the pot. 

 Into this the stems throw out greedy roots, and they 

 are thus dwarfed and strengthened without being potted 

 off from a seed-pan, and to some extent checked in the 



