181 



CUCUMBER GROWING FOR THE MARKET. 



they advance and giving air I need say little ; but as to sprinkling 

 it is proper to remark, that T never allow the border to become 

 dry till the wood begins to ripen, after which time I gradually 

 discontinue the use of water. 



The wood will be ripe about the end of November, up to 

 which time I am careful that the vines are not checked in growth. 

 The fire-heat is now daily lessened, and the lights thrown open 

 whenever the external air is above the freezing point. The 

 border in a short time becomes dry, in which state I permit it 

 to remain till the buds begin to swell, when I immediately put 

 on a layer of rotten dung, surfacing with the compost, and water- 

 ing every day till it is quite soaked. At this period I keep the 

 lights open night and day, and often sprinkle the surface, with a 

 view to cool the temperature. 



As soon as the berries are set I commence thinning, leaving 

 them half an inch apart, so that when ripe they just meet. I 

 persevere in sprinkling till a change of colour is perceptible, 

 when I leave off by degrees till the border is dry, as I men- 

 tioned before. From this time I never allow the temperature to 

 fall below 65° till the fruit is ripe, after which fires are only 

 made to exclude frost and expel damp. 



The grapes sent for exhibition were grown in a common lean- 

 to house, with the border outside : fires being made merely to 

 exclude frost and expel damp. 



My experience convinces me that by retarding the growth of 

 the vine, I can produce plump and good flavoured grapes from 

 the beginning of the year up to the end of March, and at about 

 one fourth the expense required to force a house so as to pick 

 by the beginning of April. 



XXVIII. — Directions for Cucumber growing for the Market, 

 as practised by James Cuthill, Camberwell. 



(Read at a Meeting April 6, 1847.) 



My seed pit is built of solid 4-inch brick-work laid in cement ; 

 it holds 200 4-inch pots, and has two lights ; but of course the 

 size should be in proportion to the demand. The laps of the 

 glass are all puttied, and painted with anti-corrosive paint, 

 which is cheaper and lasts much longer than any other paint ; 

 no putty is employed, except in the bedding of the squares, they 

 are merely painted, and no drip ever enters the pit. The pit is 

 bottomed with a few rough boards, and over these about 3 inches 

 in depth of mould is put, on which to set the pots level. The 

 dung is applied fresh from the stable-yard, making a very sub- 

 stantial lining about 2^ feet in width at the bottom. 



