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OF RAISING CUCUMBERS. SECT. XIV. 



Cucumbers will not do well, if the air in the bed is 

 long confined, or ftagnant : Sun is neceffary as well as 

 air, but as that we cannot furnifh, every advantage that 

 is in our power we fhould not fail to make ufe of with. 

 care. The plants are to be nurfed, and preferved mo- 

 derately warm, by keeping the pots plunged lefs or 

 more in the bed, placing them towards the outfides of 

 the Irame when there is a great heat, and more in the 

 middle when it is moderate. 



Keep fome mould round the infide of the frame, 

 ready to earth up the pots to the rim, as the heat de- 

 clines. There fhould not be lefs than two, or more 

 than three inches depth of mould, in the intermediate 

 fpaces of the frame : for when the bed is moulded too 

 thick, it keeps down the heat too much, and occafions 

 turning. Young plants fhould be guarded ixomr'tnuch 

 fun, if the feafon is advanced, and efpecially when the 

 bed is hot ; Give air in thefe cafes freely. 



Attend to the weather, and if rain, fnow, or wind, 

 is either of them likely to chill the bed much, provide 

 again ft it in time, by laying ftraw round ; and if the 

 heat naturally declines much, line, &c. as direfted, 

 page 174, in order to recover and keep it up, for the 

 plants will foon be fpoiled, or loft, if the bed gets cold. 

 They are to grow in the pots till their firft rough leaves 

 .are two or three inches broad. When there is only 

 one in a pot, a plant (upon a pinch) may grow in it till 

 it bio (Terns. 



Ufe water (foft) but moderately at firft, till the roots 

 get fpread about the pot, and then wet the (hanks of 

 the plants as little as can be helped, if the feafon is early, 

 or there is little fun. When the roots are got to the 

 tgttom of the pot, take care to water to the bottom ; 

 ■but over-much watering of young plants makes them 

 fickly. Once a week, at an early feafon, will be fuffi- 

 cient, except the heat is very ftrongin the bed, and, the 

 weather very fuany ; the water mull be in a fnjali degree 



warm, 



