2S6 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



plants as has just been described, I have usually sown 

 on or about the 1st of January, and planted them in 

 the fruiting-pits the second week of February. 



FKUITING-PITS, PLANTING- OUT, KTC. 



My experience leads me to recommend much deeper' 

 fruiting-pits than are generally in use in this system of 

 cucumber-ciilture. Deep pits require more fermenting 

 material at first starting every season, but in the after- 

 management the temperature is maintained with much 

 less trouble. I have practised with pits of various 

 dimensions, but found those that are 7 feet deep the 

 most satisfactoiy. The pits should be sunk 3 feet below 

 the ground-level, with the drainage so thorough that 

 standing water is impossible. Instead of building 

 these pits on the pigeon-hole and flue system, I would 

 construct them of 4-inch solid brick-work, and in 

 this way I have always found the linings as effective as 

 with pigeon-holes ; and there is no danger of the evil 

 effects of steam, nor from mice or rats, which are some- 

 times very troublesome. The space for the lining 

 should be two feet wide, enclosed all round with 9- 

 inch brick- work, to within a foot of the level of the pit, 

 so that the wooden shutters which cover in the linings 

 have a good slope to throw off the wet. Linings last as 

 long again thus enclosed and covered. The illustration, 

 fig. 22, will best explain the pit we have described. 



PEBPAEING THE PIT FOE THE PLANTS, SOIL, ETC. 



In preparing a pit of this description for the culture 

 of cucumbers on trellises, fiU it up inside with well- 

 sweetened stable-manure, and, when they can be had. 



