FORCING CUCUMBERS. 



305 



GROWING CUCUMBERS IN FORCING HOUSES. 



Par. 68. — Cucumbers may be raised in the 

 vinery, the peach-house, or other forcing houses. 

 The plants should be raised by sowing the seed 

 in a hotbed of dung or bark, in December, 

 January, or February, and when the plants are a 

 few days old, while in the seed leaves, prick them 

 into small pots, (forty-eights,) three in each ; 

 and when they have formed their rough leaves 

 about two inches broad, turn them out of the 

 pots with balls, and plant them into large ones, 

 or into narrow oblong boxes, the earth being 

 rich 1 and fine, the same as is generally used for 

 frame cucumbers. Place them near the top 

 glasses behind, that they may not shade the 

 trees, &c. below ; as the plants advance in 

 growth, place sticks for them to run upon for 

 support, and give frequent waterings. When in 

 bloom, impregnate the female with the farina of 

 the male, by applying the centre of the flower 

 (after removing the outside flower leaf) of the 

 male, commonly called the false blossom, to the 

 centre of the female flower, which always has the 



