72 



so deep as to place the ball of earth, if growing in 

 pots, or the crown of the tubers, not more than four 

 inches below the surface. Saturate the soil with 

 water all around the tubers, and make a cup or basin 

 on the surface, that they may be the more readily 

 watered, the first few days, until they are established. 

 In about ten days or a fortnight fork all round the 

 plant, earthing up the stems, and sinking a circle al 

 round, at 18 inches distance, making the plant stand, 

 as it were, in a three-feet-in-diameter basin. If the 

 stems are tall enough to bear it, tie them at once to 

 the stakes to protect them, and put the flower-pot, 

 from which each ball is taken, on the top of the 

 stake ; or if you hare them, put the pots on the short 

 sticks, that earwigs and other vermin may easily get 

 into them. (Gard. and Flor. ii. 28.) 



To forward the plants to such stage of growth, 

 those who possess a hothouse should put each plant 

 into a pot of 6 or 8 inches in diameter, with some 

 good rich mould, so as the crown may just appear at 

 the top of the pot ; then place them in the green- 

 house, where they will soon make good plants ; and 

 then, at the end of May, or early in June, as before 

 directed, when all danger from frost is over, they 

 may be turned out into holes prepared for them. In 

 this manner, after being so long confined, they will 

 grow most luxuriantly. A common cucumber frame 

 may be successfully used, if a hot-house is not at 



