ON FORCING CUCUMBERS WITHOUT DUNG 
133 
well as ornamental. This method of training is best adapted for 
pears ; and it is said that the French gardeners excel in thus 
training them : our more humid climate is not so suitable, because 
the ranker growth of trees is ever counteracting the design of the 
trainer. 
Another manner of training fruit-trees on narrow borders to stand 
singly, thereby breaking the uniformity of an espalier rail—and, 
although occupying but a small space, admits of branches being trained 
to any length without stopping —is also a fashion borrowed from the 
French, but which is only partially followed in this country. It is called 
the bush form by the French, though, in fact, it is more like a barrel 
noth its hoops. A young dwarf tree is planted in the usual way; four, 
five, or six shoots are reserved for the future principal branches ; and 
these, when a circle of stakes are driven into the ground about eighteen 
inches from the stem, are led out and trained spirally round on the 
outside of the stakes, year after year, as far as they will go. The 
' stakes are about live feet high, and are kept in place by a hoop at top, 
to which they are nailed or tied. 
Trees so trained are firmly defended against wind ; and the branches 
being led in such a tortuous position are, if the season allows, generally 
prolific. This plan is, however, more fanciful than useful. It is 
neither so convenient as the common espalier, nor is it so elegant as 
the distaff form ; and certainly not so natural as the common bush-forin 
already described. 
There are several other fanciful forms in which fruit-trees may be 
trained ; the inventors wishing to make the trees ornamental as well 
as profitable. Hence the weeping-ash, or open-umbrella form, &c> 
ON FORCING CUCUMBERS WITHOUT DUNG. 
Sin,—In the second volume of the Horticultural Register, page 204, 
Mr. Joseph Harrison has given 6 a description of a pit for growing 
cucumbers wiihoul dung throughout the whole year.” And in a note 
it is stated that alterations were in progress, which, when completed, 
should be furnished to the public through u The Register.’* 
As I have always had great difficulty in procuring a sufficient quan¬ 
tity of stable manure for hot-beds, my attention is naturally drawn 
with some interest to any plans which may be suggested for obviating 
it ; and, although it has been long delayed, I trust Mr. Harrison will 
yet favour your readers with an account of his improvements ; and also 
the result of his extended experience in the use of the pit, which I am 
sure cannot fail of being interesting to very many of your readers, as it 
