16 
CULTURE OF CUCUMBERS. 
the plants will be up, and will soon require to be potted off in small 
pots, three in a pot. When this is done, replunge them into the box, 
and give a gentle watering, if the weather be fine, not forgetting to 
shade them from the sun, if required. Attention must be paid to 
keep up the heat in your lining, and by regulating the air, the plants 
having soon made their third leaf, it will be necessary to stop. The 
plants will break afresh and become stockey, proper attention being 
paid to them. In the course of a fortnight, they will require another 
place. It will be necessary to have a three light frame for them; I 
should recommend one on Me.’ Fhail’s plan, which is well known to 
all gardeners, for early forcing. It will now be requisite to clean 
out from the frame all the soil and.dung, and to put some half ex¬ 
hausted dung, from a lining that is at work, into your frame. Fill 
up the pit level with the flues, and put a thin covering of cinder- 
ashes over it. Examine your frame all round to see that there is no 
place to admit any foul steam arising from the lining, which in all 
probability would destroy your plants. The mould is what must 
now be thought of, and a composition must be mixed up consisting 
of two parts of good sandy loam, one-half of rotten dung, and a third 
part peat. These being mixed well together, you must put a 
quantity into your frame, and make up the hills about eight inches 
from the glass, putting a good lining of fresh horse-dung to your 
frame, and then the heat will soon be up to receive the plants. After 
the plants are ridged out, the greatest attention must be paid to the 
regulation of heat, the giving of air, watering and renewing of the 
lining, so as to keep the temperature at 80 degrees of heat. Giving 
air at night must not be forgotten, air must be given at all opportu¬ 
nities. The covering which is put on at night will be regulated ac¬ 
cording to the state of your lining, great care being taken, in per¬ 
forming this part of the work; to examine your frame, and see there are 
no loose straws left hanging over the side; for if such be left they 
conduct the foul steam into the frame, and will not unlikely destroy 
your plants. The covering must be taken off in the morning, as early 
as the weather will admit, and the glass must be kept perfectly clean, 
to afford all the light to the plants, since light is life to them at this 
dull season of the year. In adding fresh mould to your plants, it 
should be done on a fine day, and as quickly as possible. The air 
at this season of the year is very cutting. In the month of January, 
your plants will be getting fruitful, and if they have received proper 
attention, fruit may soon be sent to table. 
* •* 
November 28 1h, 1833. 
