THE CUCUMBER. 



257 



fresh oak-leaves, previously prepared as directed for 

 the seed-bed. In this case it is advisable that the 

 proportion of leaves should predominate, for the heat 

 will on that account be less violent, but more lasting. 

 Shake it in in layers, and tread rather iirmly. This 

 firm body of fermenting material will keep up a steady 

 bottom-heat for a long time. The space for the lining 

 requires to be fiUed with hot material at the same time ; 

 less firmly than in the inside, but quite up to the top of 



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 III ll 



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FlQ. 22. 

 1, 1, 1, Dung and Leaves. 2 SoiL 



the pit. The soil, consisting of equal parts loam and 

 leaf-mould, or very old hotbed manure, and a little 

 gritty sand or charred earth, to the depth of 10 inches, 

 should be put in the pit at once. Then knock the 

 bottoms out of 11-inch pots, and place them on the 

 surface of the soU, one in the centre of each light, 

 and fill them up with soil. In these pots the plants 

 are planted, and are thus raised nearer the light and 

 trellis, and can consequently be got sooner into bearing 

 than otherwise. The trellises generally used are made of 



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