Mat/.] 



THE FORCING GARDEN. 



731 



surfuce of the bed, as already directed for melons under frames 

 and glasses. As the weather becomes more mild, elevate the 

 glasses upon bricks or other props, sufficiently high to admit 

 of the runners spreading freely out on all sides. For the 

 better protection of the plants, as they extend from under the 

 glasses, it will be advisable to have in readiness a sufficient 

 number of oil-paper frames wherewith to cover them, previously 

 to removing the glasses altogether. — (See 7iea:t month.) 



Cucumbers, to pickle, are often sown in the natural ground 

 where they are to remain, and in favorable situations are found 

 to succeed perfectly, but for this purpose, it will be soon enough 

 towards the end of this month to sow the seeds. Where the 

 situation is favorable, and the demand great for such crops, 

 a piece of ground is put in readiness for the reception of the 

 seeds by being dug regularly over, and manured, of a size 

 according to the quantity wanted ; it is then divided into beds 

 five or six feet broad, allowing a foot or eighteen inches for 

 a footpath between each bed. The seeds are then sown in 

 patches along the middle of each of the beds, each patch 

 being about three feet and a half apart ; in each patch ten or 

 twelve seeds are dropped, and covered to the depth of an 

 inch. 



If the weather should prove dry and hot, give moderate 

 supplies of water to each patch of seeds ; but this must be 

 rather sparingly administered, for, if too freely indulged in, 

 great danger would be incurred of rotting the seeds altogether. 

 When the seeds have germinated, and the young plants are 

 coming up, water may then be more freely given to them. 



When the plants have been up eight or ten days, they 

 should be carefully thinned ; for if each seed sown has ger- 

 minated, the plants will be much too thick. This thinning 

 should not be done at once, but at two or three several times, 

 allowing a day or two to intervene between each thinning. 

 If the weather be cloudy, or if warm showers have fallen, 

 take advantage of such weather for this operation ; but if no 

 warm showers should flill, give a gentle watering both before 

 thinning and likewise afterwards, which will prevent any of 

 the plants which are intended to remain from sustaining in- 

 jury. When finally thinned, they should stand in number 



