258 



FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



PREPARING THE PIT FOR THE PLANTS, SOIL, ETC. 



In preparing a pit of this description for the culture 

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

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

 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. 



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Flc 22. 

 1, 1,1, Dung and Leaves. 2 Soil. 



Shake it in in layers, and tread rather firmly. 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 filled with hot material at the same 

 time ; less firmly than in the inside, but quite up to 

 the top of 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 



