69G THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [Mar, 



period of the year, this precaution is of less importance, par- 

 ticularly to cucumbers, as many insects, and bees in particular, 

 will be in active quest of food, and will, while flying from 

 flower to flower, perform this necessary office. The state of 

 the beds will require daily attention, so that a brisk growing 

 heat may be kept up, in order that the plants may not sustain 

 any check, which to them, at all seasons, is extremely injurious. 

 This heat, though brisk, must be moderated according to the 

 state of the weather. The cucumber-plants ridged out last 

 month, as directed, will now be beginning to produce fruit in 

 perfection and abundance. 



As the heat begins to decline, let linings of prepared fresh 

 dung be applied, or the linings, if any have already been ap- 

 plied, should be renewed as circumstances may direct. 



Air should be freely admitted every day, in quantity more or 

 less, as the state of the weather and the temperature of the 

 beds may direct ; and water should be likewise administered 

 frequently, but in a moderate quantity, always using the pre- 

 caution to have the chill taken off before using, either by its 

 being placed in the beds some hours previously to its being 

 used, or rather by the addition of a portion of water heated 

 for the purpose. The operation of watering should be per- 

 formed in the forenoon, and, if possible, in fine days, from 

 ten to one o'clock, so that the plants may be partially dried 

 before the beds are shut up for the night. The frames will 

 require to be carefully covered up every night with mats, and 

 this covering removed by sunrise, or soon after, in the morn- 

 ings. As the plants extend themselves, let their branches or 

 runners, as they are called, be pegged down to the mould, at 

 regular distances, to prevent their running into confusion, as 

 well as to strengthen the plants, by allowing them to root at 

 the joints of their shoots, by which means they will obtain 

 additional nourishment. As the roots penetrate through the 

 hills, add more mould to them, always adding a little at a 

 time, and having it placed in the beds a day or two before it 

 is applied to the roots, so that it may be brought to an equal 

 temperature to the mould in the beds. 



It is of much consequence that the mould applied at all 



