176 : OF raising CUCUMBERS. SECT. XIV. 



As to the forcing fruits, -peas, eifparagus, and the 

 railing of mujhrooms , thefe things are not commonly 

 pra&ifed, and it can hardly be expecled in fuch an 

 initiatory bjok as this, to find iniirufHons for all things* 



SECTION XIV. 



©F RAISING CUCUMBERS AND MELONS, 



& OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. 

 r See Cucumber in the next Section. 



GARDENERS ufually provide three crops of cu- 

 cumbers m the feafon, all of which will be in- 

 debted to hot dung to produce them ; except fometimes 

 indeed, the laft fowing be upon cold ground ; which, 

 in fome favourable filiations, and in fome feafons, may 

 do for picklei s. We begin with the early crop, which 

 is Tnoft valued. 



Make a feed bed of the fize of a one-light frame, {or 

 a two-light were better), from three to four feet thick, 

 and if ambitious of being forward, do it fometime be- 

 tween the firft and fifteenth of January, though fome 

 gardeners fow about Chriftmas : But the fooner this 

 -work is begun, the more hazard there is of failing, 

 and the more (kill and trouble will be neceffary to 

 manage them fuccefs fully. 



The young gardener is advifed not to attempt this 

 bufinefs till the middle of February ; and then, if he has 

 good fortune, he will cut fruit about the middle of 

 May. When he has attained fome ikill in the work, 

 he may begin fooner; for there is nothing that pro- 

 feffed gardeners are fo fond of exhibiting, as early 

 cucujnbers, which is a proof, that no little ingenuity 



