9 
SEPTEMBER. 
193 
the domain of theory and demand an unconditional surrender of general prin¬ 
ciples. Practice and theory stand widely apart, and must ever remain distinct. 
The former alone determines the existence of a specific fact; the latter offers 
simple counsel, hints, and suggestions, which never mislead if we are sufficiently 
awake to recognise its teaching. 
Leaving, however, investigations of this character, I would remark that 
while I continued to grow my winter Cucumbers according to the system of 
allowing the roots to ramble about at will, my crops were constantly after the 
middle of November unsatisfactory. Vitality began to lose power, the fruit 
was small and deformed, nor did matters begin to improve till the end of 
February. There is little composure whilst smarting under defeats of this kind, 
for independent of the daily supply for salad, there is Monsieur constantly tele¬ 
graphing from the kitchen. French cooks as a rule are not the most accommo¬ 
dating, they admit of no scarcity, and accept of no excuses. The above is not 
an exceptional case. I have never yet seen winter Cucumbers produced freely 
when treated upon the planting-out system. Too much liberty is positively 
injurious ; nor would I confine my statement to the growth of Cucumbers, I 
would submit Melons at anv season to the same amount of restriction. Further, 
I fear we are guilty of giving the roots of all our fruit trees too much extension, 
whether cultivated in our hothouses or in the open air. This evil is becoming 
yearly more apparent, and the period is fast approaching when it will be ad¬ 
mitted as a fact. 
That hot water is, and has long been acknowledged as the most convenient 
and reliable means of keeping the soil at a uniform temperature is a fact respect¬ 
ing which there can be no cavil; but the best means of distributing the heat 
in the manner most agreeable to the roots is still a matter of dispute. Some 
gardeners prefer heated chambers, and these may be found to work advan¬ 
tageously, yet after having given this method a trial for several years, I dismissed 
it as not altogether satisfactory. The plan I now pursue, is to cover the pipes 
from 15 to 18 inches deep with large stones, arranging them so as to form as 
many cavities as possible, and by this means I can command from two three- 
inch pipes 90° of heat if required. Brickbats are preferable, as they absorb 
and radiate the heat more freely. 
The size of the pots is not very material; those which I use are from 15 to 
16 inches in diameter, supported about 4 inches above the stones, so as to 
give freedom for the roots to pass through the bottom. The bed is then filled 
nearly to the rim of the pots with half-decayed leaf mould, into which the roots 
gradually find their way. The soil for potting is not always of the same 
character; but of whatever kind, I have it mixed, a year previously to being 
used, with a third part of cow or pig manure. It should be used compara¬ 
tively dry, pressed firmly in the pots, raised about 4 inches above the surface, 
and finished off in the form of a flattened sphere, to prevent an accumulation 
of water, which will produce gangrene at the collar of the plant. 
Plants treated in the way that I have recommended will bear profusely for 
a year. Those planted in the beginning of September 1865 are now with me 
as vigorous and healthy as at any period, and to all appearance would survive 
another campaign. No account has been kept as to the amount of produce, 
but the aggregate will number many thousands. 
I do not hold up pot-culture as infallible. There are contingencies that 
interfere with the best-formed design for managing the roots. Atmospheric 
arrangements have likewise to be considered, such as stopping, ventilation, the 
proper amount of moisture, and the admission of a due amount of light, without 
which there is imperfect elaboration of the nutritive matter, and a sluggish 
decomposition of water. 
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