84 



CUCUMBER. 



leaves, not in that of flowers and fruits — whence they con- 

 clude, that old cucumber seeds, (like those of all the rest 

 of the cucurbitacecB family,) are better than new, because 

 less vigorous. The best practical use to be made of this 

 controversy, is to sow old seeds in the spring^ when vege- 

 tation is most powerful, and new ones in Julyj when it 

 begins to abate." 



Forcing cucumbers. — " Towards the latter end of January, 

 a quantity of fresh horse-dung should be procured with the 

 litter among it, to which a small portion of sea-coal ashes 

 may well be added. In the course of four or five days, the 

 dung begins to heat, when a little of it may be drawn flat 

 on the outside, and covered two inches thick with good 

 earth ; over which a bell-glass ought to be placed ; and two 

 days after, when the soil is warm, the seeds should be sown, 

 covered with fresh mould one fourth of an inch thick, and 

 the glass again set over it. This must be screened by a 

 mat during the night, and in four days the young plants 

 will germinate. As soon as they appear, the rest of the 

 dung must be beaten close together into a bed for one or 

 more lights, which bed should be three feet thick, and cov- 

 ered three inches deep with fine, fresh earth ; the frame is 

 then to be put on ; and, during the night, or in bad weather, 

 sheltered with mats. When the soil is hot enough, the 

 young plants must be removed into it, and set at two inches 

 distance, the glasses being occasionally raised to admit 

 fresh air, and also frequently turned, to prevent the wet 

 steam of the dung from dropping down on the plants. These 

 ought to be watered at stated times, with tepid or luke-warm 

 water; and, as they increase in size, should be earthed up; 

 an operation which will considerably augment their strength. 

 If the bed be not hot enough, fresh litter should be laid 

 round its sides ; but if it be too warm, it should be perfo- 

 rated with a stake to give vent to the heat; and, as soon as 

 the bed acquires a proper temperature, the holes are to be 

 closed up with fresh earth. When the plants b^'gin to shoot 

 their third or rough leaf, another bed should be prepared 

 for them, similar to the first ; and, when the soil is thorough- 

 ly warmed, they should be transplanted into it, in holes 

 about a foot deep, and nine inches broad, filled with light, 

 fine, fresh mould, laid in a hollov/, circular form. In each 

 of these holes four plants should be set, and shaded for two 

 or three days from the heat of the sun, that they may strike 

 root ; after which time it will be useful to expose them to 



