122 
FORCING CUCUMBERS. 
so that no water can settle under the dung. Tne substance 
of dung from the bottom of the bed should be from three to 
four feet, according to the season of planting, and the mould 
should be laid on as soon as the bed is settled, and has a 
lively, regular-tempered heat. Lay the earth evenly over 
the dung, about six inches deep ; after it has lain a few days 
examine it, and if no traces of a burning effect are disco- 
vered, by the mould turning of a whitish colour and caking, 
it will be fit to receive the plants ; but if the earth appears 
burned, or has a rank smell, some fresh sweet mould should 
be provided for the hills, and placed in the frame to get 
warm ; at the same time, vacancies should be made to give 
vent to the steam, by running down stakes. 
After the situation of the bed has been ascertained, and 
the heat regulated, the hole should be closed, and the earth 
formed into hills ; raise one hill in the centre under each 
sash, so that the earth is brought to within nine inches of 
the glass ; in these hills, plant three seedlings, or turn out 
such as may be in pots, with the balls of earth about their 
roots, and thus insert one patch of three plants in the mid- 
dle of each hill. The plants should be immediately watered 
with water heated to the temperature of the bed, and kept 
shaded till they have taken root. 
The temperature should be kept up to 60 °, and may rise 
to 80 ° without injury, provided the rank steam be allowed 
to pass off ; therefore, as the heat begins to decline, timely 
linings of well-prepared dung must be applied all round the 
frame. Begin by lining the back part first ; cut away the 
old dung perpendicularly by the frame, and form a bank two 
feet broad, to the height of a foot, against the back of the 
frames ; as it sinks, add more ; renew the linings round the 
remainder of the bed as it becomes necessary, and be care- 
ful to let off the steam, and give air to the plants at all op- 
portunities. 
Give necessary waterings, mostly in the morning of a mild 
day, in early forcing ; and in the afternoon, in the advanced 
