762 THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [^^^g* 



regular order on the mould-trough over the flue, at three feet 

 apart, and remain in this station for succession. A setting of 

 the second sowing is placed on the end flues of the house ; 

 underneath each pot is placed an upright circular garden-pan 

 six inches deep, and fourteen inches diameter, which being 

 filled with earth, the pots are placed therein about two inches 

 deep, and the drain-holes being sufficiently covered with mould 

 serve for outlets for the roots. 



The temperature of the stove w^as kept up day and night at 

 60° or 65°, varying only a few degrees, when the sun or steam 

 produced a sudden increase of warmth. The plants being 

 established, and in vigour, require stopping for laterals and 

 fruit, and those second and third lateral shoots, in their turn, 

 are stopped also, and the blossoms from time to time set as 

 usual for succcssional supply. 



Water becomes necessary only when the surface of the pota 

 becomes evidently dry, and then a slight sprinkling of soft 

 water is given, after being tempered by standing some time 

 previously in the stove ; this is sprinkled over the leaves of the 

 plants with good eflbct. 



The house is occasionally steamed by pouring water upon 

 ^e flues, which produces a fine genial vapour, evidently useful 

 to the plants ; but care should be taken that this operation be 

 regulated, so that any scalding of the leaves from it when the 

 ▼apour is too hot, may be guarded against. 



When mildew appears, flour of brimstone, colored leaf- 

 green, with a little soot, is sprinkled over the leaves and shoots 

 affected; and copious fumigations of tobacco are given, to 

 subdue such species of the aphis tribe as may make their 

 appearance. By this simple process, cucumbers have been 

 produced abundantly in the months of October, November, 

 December, and part of Januai-y, in all the royal gardens, 

 during a scries of years. 



Where there is not the convenience of a stove for the re- 

 ception of these plants, a small pit, heated by hot water, will 

 be found to answer the purpose of growing cucumbers during 

 all the winter months ; such pit, however, should be so con- 

 structed, as to admit of a person getting in with facility to 

 examine the state of the plants, and to regulate them according 



