Jan,"] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



G03 



The following novel method of obtaining a crop of early 

 cucumbers, fit to cut in January, is communicated by Mr. J. 

 Reed, of Bristol, in the Gard. Mag. ; and to those who have 

 the opportunity, it certainly merits a trial : ''On or about the 

 2()th of September, cucumber seeds, of an approved or known 

 sort, were sown on a moderate hot-bed in the open air, and 

 treated in the usual manner till they were ready to ridge out. 

 This generally happened about the beginning of November, 

 at which time the shoots of the vines, in an ordinary vinery, 

 were withdrawn from the house, and a dung-bed formed on 

 the floor in the usual way. After placing the frame and mould 

 on the bed, it may be left without the lights till the rank 

 steam has passed off. After this, the plants being placed in 

 the hills, and the sashes put on, the following are the leading 

 features of management during winter. Make fires in the 

 evening, so as to warm the air of the house to from 56° to 60°, 

 and in very severe frosts it may be raised to 70°. In the 

 mornings of the coldest weather and shortest days, make a 

 Btrong fire, so as to raise the heat to nearly 70° when the 

 house is shut up. About eight o'clock, and from that time to 

 half past nine, give plenty of fresh air, by opening the front 

 sashes and top-lights, after which, and during the remainder 

 of the day, give plenty of air to the cucumbers, by tiltmg the 

 Bashes in the usual way. In mild weather, and during sun- 

 shine, the lights may be taken entirely off the cucumbers for 

 some hours each day ; and immediately after forming new 

 linings, the top-lights may be taken down a little all night, to 

 permit the escape of any rank steam. The advantage of this 

 mode of growing cucumbers during winter, is the comparative 

 certainty of an early and good crop at one-third of the trouble 

 and expense of the common method out of doors. The ex- 

 pense is lessened by no covering up being required, and by all 

 the labor attending the renewal of linings, &c. &c., admitting 

 of being done in wet weather. The vines may be introduced 

 in the beginning of March, (a very usual time of commencing 

 forcing for a regular crop,) and will break regularly in conse- 

 quence of the genial steam of the dung. In April, the beds 

 may be removed, as by that time the shade of the vines will 



