HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 29 



whereby the rank heat will be moderated and the most violent fer- 

 mentation avoided. When the heat in the frame has subsided to 

 about 75°, if plants cannot be procured the seed may be sown ; ne- 

 ver allow the heat to rise above 90° without giving air, and for the 

 first few weeks guard against injury from steam by leaving a slight 

 amount of air continually on. There is little art in raising early 

 cucumbers, the main thing is to keep the temperature from 75° to 

 85°, with all the air possible, without allowing the temperature to 

 fall below that ; the least check will throw the crop back a w^eek or 

 more. 



Mushrooms are yearly coming into greater request ; the excellent 

 directions given in the last number by Mr. Hammil, are well worthy 

 the perusal of all interested in the subject, and will render further 

 directions unnecessary here. The principal attention will be re- 

 quired for Spring Salads, nothing being more desirable in early 

 spring ; a little heat will do wonders in forwarding them ; the great- 

 est damper arises from the -possibility of their getting too much — 

 from 45 to 55° will bring forward Radishes, and Lettuce, Horn Car- 

 rots, &c, in first rate style. 



Ice Houses. — I have already in a former calendar, given the prin- 

 ciples on which the proper keeping of ice depends; a correspondent 

 differs in some respects from me, and as the season has afforded few 

 an opportunity as yet of filling their houses, it will not be out of 

 place to give his ideas, merely premising that I keep my ice well on 

 the principles I had laid down. He says, " I differ from you on the 

 importance of packing ice in large pieces. When the ice is broken 

 small, the water from the melting ice runs between the spaces, and 

 freezing there, forms the whole mass into one solid lump ; but when 

 it is packed in large pieces, the spaces never close up, and the air 

 permeates continually between them." Much may be said on both 

 sides of this question ; having given my friends reason for differing, 

 I leave it there. T. j. 



Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. 



The stated meeting was held on Tuesday evening, 18th instant. 

 Although at this season we do not generally see plants exhibited, 



