16 G the amateur’s kitchen garden. 
may be warmed for use, and give the plants a sprinkle from 
the syringe daily from this can, as soon as they begin to grow 
freely. The general management will consist in occasionally 
adding more fresh soil to the hillocks as the plants require 
it; in occasionally ascertaining the state of the roots as to 
moisture, for they should be always fairly moist ; and as soon 
as fruit appears, the shoot bearing it should have the point 
pinched out. The growth should be regulated so as to coyer 
the bed equally without crowding anywhere ; and it a paying 
crop is wanted, every fruit should be cut as soon as it is 
large enough to eat, for if one or two be left to attain a great 
size, there will be a comparative cessation of production. Large 
cucumbers are very well in their way, but small ones are 
more useful in every way ; and the amateur may be properly 
advised to study, first, how to obtain a sufficiency of fruit 
nine to twelve inches long, before laying himself out for the 
production of exhibition specimens. 
This simple mode of cultivation may be varied in a multi- 
tude of ways. We will suppose the making of a hotbed to 
be too great a task. In this case it will be a waste of labour 
to do anything until about the middle of May, and then 
perhaps the pits and frames in which bedding plants have 
been kept may be turned to account for cucumbers. From 
mid-May to mid-September, cucumbers do not need bottom- 
heat, therefore but little preparation is needed for growing a 
few in a rough and ready way. If the frames are on a hard 
surface, two or three large seed pans should be placed under 
each light to form a foundation for the bed. Place the pans 
bottom upwards, strew over them a layer of broken bricks and 
tiles, and then put on a barrowful of suitable soil as the 
beginning of each hillock. This mode of procedure will pre- 
vent injury from accumulation of water, for cucumbers are 
often killed by beginners, who permit them to become water- 
logged. Shut up close, and in two or three days these 
hillocks will be nicely warmed. Then put a strong plant on 
each, planting it with great care, that the roots . are not 
injured : shut up close, and shade when the sun shines. In 
about a week new growth will begin, and thenceforward a 
little regulating and stopping must be done, and the treat- 
ment generally must be the same as already advised. It is 
not good economy to sow seed so late in the season, but it 
may be done for a late supply of fruit, and it is certain that 
