ON THE CULTURE OF THE CUCUMBER. 
51 
portion of soil only should be employed at the time of planting ; 
for if the whole of what is made use of were placed at once in 
its appointed situation, it might be subject to become soured 
by the constant action of the atmospheric humidity; at any 
rate it would be preferable not to risk such a possibility. The 
portion employed and from time to time added, may be kept 
together about the roots by means of two or three common 
slates placed about it. Instead of raising the plants in pots, 
and transplanting them to these little hillocks of soil, I would 
would prefer sowing the seeds at once where it was intended 
they should grow. The tissue of which the roots of cucumbers are 
composed is of a very succulent and tender nature, and is liable 
to sustain a serious injury, even b} r the most careful act of trans¬ 
plantation. This mutilation would have the effect of checking 
the growth and development of the plants—a result which no 
care should be withheld which could possibly have any influence 
to prevent. The development and fructification of plants, all 
other circumstances of growth being favourable, will be in pro¬ 
portion as the elements of their vitality and extension are unin¬ 
terruptedly supplied; and, all other circumstances being equal, 
the result of injury sustained by the organs of nutrition, or of 
a diminution of food, will be to retard the ultimate perfection 
both of development and fructification. To carry this principle J 
into practice, I would propose that these hillocks of soil should 
be made of the same height as the thickness of the soil was 
intended to be; on this I would invert a 60-sized pot, having 
the bottom neatly taken out, and this should be filled with soil 
in which to sow the seed. After vegetation, the roots would 
penetrate and ramify into the soil beneath, whilst the inverted 
pot would still remain about the neck of the plant, where it 
would serve to protect it from injury, either in watering, in 
adding fresh soil, or from any accidental causes. It will be an 
advantage, whilst the plants are young and there is no risk of 
injuring the roots, to stir the soil very lightly every day, so as 
to keep all clean and neat about them, and prevent the growth 
of fungi, which are during winter ready enough to rise into 
being; it will also prevent the surface from becoming caked, and 
thereby rendered impervious to the action of the source of light 
and heat. 
Pruning . — The plants being intended to occupy a surface of 
trellis-work near the roof, it will be requisite to encourage their 
