274 THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY 
or rather, the pots that contain the seeds, as soon as 
they are seen forcing themselves through the earth, to 
some more genial atmosphere, it it is to be had. 
mention this because the careless way in winch seed¬ 
beds are sometimes constructed leads to misfortune. 
Supposing all goes on aright, the seeds germinate, 
and the first rough leaf makes its appearance, the plants 
may then be carefully repotted, placing two plants in a 
three-inch pot, in light, rich soil, which, together with 
the pots, &c., has been warmed in the frame before- 
hand, plunging and attending them as before, and at 
planting a very little tepid soft water may be given; but 
the great agents of success at this season are sunshine 
and a nice brisk heat. _ . 
When the plants are in this condition, the liuitmg 
bed may be prepared, which, being intended to last some 
time, ought to be more carefully done, in the way oi 
| properly tempering the dung, and when ready, the frame 
may be at once set on, and if no danger from over- 
heating appears, cover at once with a mixture ot tuny 
loam and leaf-mould, forming hills under each light in 
the usual way at least ten inches or a loot deep, and 
into these hills, when they have become warmed, turn 
out the Cucumber plants before they have filled the pots 
1 with roots. Usually, cracked or interior pots are used 
| for this, in order that they may be broken, at the time 
| of turning out, without injuring the ball, which could 
hardly be done by the ordinary way of turning it up¬ 
side down, and the importance of securing an unchecked 
growth to Cucumbers overrules all notions of economy 
in such matters. A little water may be given at the 
time, and if the bed be warm a little air may be given 
at back to let out any steam or undue beat, more 
especially if the days are sunny. Covering up at night 
with mats must also be strictly adhered to; but it 
steam arise, leave a little outlet at back for its getting 
out. , . 
If all goes on well the plants will soon put forth 
other leaves, and also shoots, which some groweis 
stop immediately they are visible; but I allow them 
to get eight inches or more long before 1 pinch out 
the leader, and they more quickly form laterals then, 
which, as is well known, are the fruiting shoots. Ly 
this time, however, the roots of the plants will have 
occupied most of the hills, and will require additional 
earth heaped around them. This, as well as all other work 
or examination, ought to be done on the finest days, 
| and with the frame only a little way open at a time, as 
| a delicate plant like the Cucumber is very susceptible 
! to cold; in fact, very little will completely kill it; but 
| if the amateur be able to rear his plants until they 
have two or three large leaves, the most critical period 
is over, and they will grow away fast when longer days 
come. 
In the early period of their growth small insects are 
not so troublesome as at a later period; but of larger 
insects the Woodlouse and Vea Bur/ are the most common. 
These insidious pests are the most fatal to the Cucumber, 
and unless checked will speedily devour a great number 
■ of small plants. The best remedy that I have found is 
i to put a cooked potato amongst moss, and place it in 
i the frame. Examine this frequently, and kill the insects 
I enticed there. A toad or frog in a frame is also useful, 
and bo careful not to introduce any plants or cuttings 
of plants that may contain anything in the shape ot 
j red spider, green fly, or thrips upon it, and let the 
! earth be free from slugs, wire-worms, or other hurtful 
j vermin. Then, with due attention in the way of giving 
j air, covering up at night, renovating the bottom heat 
i by dung linings, &c., a good result may be fairly 
! expected. 
I have, on former occasions, refrained from giving 
j any opinion on the kinds most suitable, as my opinion 
| does not coincide with the fancy growers. A good 
GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, January 20, 1857. 
bearer, and one that cuts up and eats well, are to me 
more important points than one of extreme length ; anti 
if the amateur be at a loss which to have, I may add 
that I have found Walker’s Improved answer pretty 
well, though I generally grow one not dignified by any | 
high-sounding name; in fact, it may be said to be j 
without a pedigree, but I am quite satisfied of its 
legitimacy. It is a sort of cross between the Black | 
Spine and Syon House; but Cucumbers vary so much 
from seed, even when the latter is carefully taken horn 
isolated plants, that I would not advise too much re¬ 
liance to be placed on those reported to possess extia- 
ordinary merit. Nevertheless, for exhibition purposes, 
some of those advertised in this and other«papers will j 
be found useful. . 
As I shall, at another time, enter more fully into the | 
general spring and summer management of Cucumbers, 
I need say no more here, save that I hope the amateui ; 
will take care and not neglect his seedling or young 
plants during the bitterly cold days and nights common j 
at this season. Neither must he neglect to give them a 
little air when the sun shines, shutting them up, however, , 
early in the afternoon ; and, with a proper heat of /0 or j 
upwards, his Cucumbers will grow apace, and produce ; 
useful good fruit in abundance at the fitting time. 
’ D J. Hobson. 
CULTURE OF PENTAS CARNEA. 
My success in the cultivation of the Pcntns prompts mo to 
lay the particulars of my practice before the readers of Ihe 
Cotta*! Gardener. In doing so I may render a little help 
to the amateur or the unsuccessful in their attempts to cut- j 
tivate this by-no-means-to-be-despised inhabitant of the 
stove. Its cultivation is perfectly easy, and when liberally 
treated will amply.repay the cultivator for his trouble with , 
its numerous well-grown white or rose-coloured flowers. 
I would recommend a young plant raised from a cutting 
in July or August, that has been well kept through the win- 
ter until the last week in February or the first week m 
March. At this time turn it out of the pot, examine the j 
roots, and, if required, carefully uncoil them, and pick out j 
any apparent decayed fibre, as well as the drainage from the 
bottom of the ball. This I consider necessary treatment m 
the culture of all plants in pots. . 
Having done this, place the plant m a mean pot three 
sizes larger than the one out of which it has been taken. 
Let the new pot have drainage in it to one-fourth of its 
depth, the drainage being formed of equal portions of broken 
pieces of charcoal and the imperfectly-burnt lumps occa¬ 
sionally found amongst lime that will scarcely yield either to 
the influence of air or water, 'lhis kind of diainage 1 have 
found acts very favourably on the growth of many kinds ot 
soft-wooded plants. The roots run through it m every 
direction, and wrap round the small pieces of drainage as 
though they were desirous of not losing that which they 
delight in. When this drainage is covered with a thin layer j 
of rubbly turf there is scarcely any danger of its becoming 
so close as not to allow the surplus water to escape freely. 
I prefer rough turf rather than moss for placing over the 
drainages for this and some other sorts of plants, as with j 
me the roots are not so subject to become spotted or can- 1 
kered as they are when moss is used. 
Next put in about one inch of the following compost, viz., 
two parts turfy loam, one part fibry peat, halt part leaf- , 
mould, and a small portion of silver sand, well mixed, but j 
left rough. On this place the ball of the pi ant, fill in round j 
it with the same compost, and stake on the sides with the j 
hands. Water with tepid water, and, it convenient, plunge j 
the pot in a mild bottom heat in a pit or house, the an ot 
which is rather dry than otherwise, and which commands a 
top heat of 60° or 05® by day. If it is not convenient to 
plunge the pot, place it in any house the atmosphere ot 
which is not saturated with wet, and the temperature ot 
which ranges at 00° by night, and from 65® to 75 by 
day, admitting a free, uniform circulation oi air on all luvoui- 
able occasions. 
