THE AMATEUR’S KITCHEN GARDEN. 165 
The proper Soil for Cucumbers is suggested by their 
rapid growth. It must be mellow and nutritive. The staple 
should be turfy loam full of fibre, such as the top spit of an 
old pasture ; but an unkind soil may be greatly improved by 
the admixture with it of rotten stable dung and leaf mould. 
A harsh gravelly soil or an untempered clay are equally unfit, 
but the top crumbs of clay that the winter has pulverised 
may be employed in a proportion of about one-fourth with 
the aid of rotted turves and other mellowing materials. The 
drainage must always be perfect, for stagnant moisture will 
soon destroy cucumber plants ; and on the other hand, if the 
body of soil becomes dust dry below, the plants will soon 
become infested with vermin, and it is then a question whe- 
ther it will be more economical to burn or to cleanse them. 
Cucumbers in Frames give the least trouble and make 
the best return. A good hotbed should be made up in 
February or March, and when quite sweet, the heat being 
about 80°, a small hillock of soil should be put under the 
centre of each light, and two or three seeds sown in each 
hillock. The soil should consist as nearly as possible of two 
parts turfy loam, and one part each of leaf mould and nearly 
rotten stable dung mixed together. When the plants are 
well up, give air with caution to keep them sturdy, but be 
careful no withering blast sweeps through ; and do not shade 
at any time, unless there should occur strong sunshine, with 
a keen east wind. In this case it will be dangerous to 
ventilate, and therefore a little shade must be given for an 
hour or two at mid-day, by laying a newspaper over the 
plants or a mat on the glass. When the plants have made 
their first rough leaf remove all but the strongest, for one to 
a light is enough in any case. A few of the surplus plants 
may be nursed on in the frame for use elsewhere, to plant on 
beds a month or so later. It is usual to pinch out the centre 
of the plant as soon as it has two or three rough leaves, to 
cause it to branch and spread; but really the “stopping,” as 
it is termed, is a matter of comparatively small consequence, 
and if neglected, will make but little difference in the end. 
However, it is orthodox to pinch out the point at an early 
date, and thus promote a spreading growth to cover the bed. 
Keep the heat at about 7 0° as nearly as possible ; give air as 
often as possible, by slightly tilting the light on the leeward 
side ; and always keep in the frame a can of water, that it 
