338 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
October  10,  1895, 
the  fruiticn  of  forethought  and  the  energy  which  has  been 
applied  in  carrying  it  out.  Those  who  have  aimed  highest,  if  they 
have  not  reached  their  mark,  have  at  least  gone  nearer  to  it 
than  less  ambitious  ones.  Even  the  latter  class  cannot  but  extract 
profitable  lessons  from  failure,  for  past  failure  is  a  sharp  spur  to 
future  success.  Yet  considerable  allowance  must  be  made  for 
the  many  persons  who  are  heavily  handicapped,  especially  during 
such  a  season  as  the  past,  which  has,  to  say  the  least,  been 
peculiar. 
We,  of  the  garden,  who  ^live  under  the  dual  sceptre  of  Flora 
and  Pomona,  have  probably  more  reason  for  self-congratulation 
than  those  who  pay  homage  to  Ceres,  for  to  the  farmer  the  latter 
has  been  most  unkind,  yet  even  she  has — I  gather  from  various 
reports  (“  Inspector’s  ”  articles  for  one)  and  personal  observation 
— smiled  on  those  who  have  been  most  anxious  to  propitiate  her. 
So,  doubtless,  it  is  the  case  in  our  own  particular  department,  and 
the  index  finger  of  the  press  points  the  moral  to  its  readers  that 
high  culture  is  the  safe  road  to  travel  on,  particularly  in  abnormal 
seasons.  “  No  use  praying  here  ;  this  field  wants  manure,” 
said  the  good  Swiss  pastor  on  his  annual  visit  to  invoke  the 
blessing  of  Providence  on  the  crops.  So  this  old,  old  earth 
of  ours  must  be  constantly  re-invigorated  with  the  elixir  of 
life  in  some  form  or  other,  or  we  see  such  results  as  are  past 
praying  for.  If  cultivators  would  but  grasp  this  fact  and  act  up 
to  it,  results  both  in  farm  and  garden  would  be  far  more  credit¬ 
able  to  all  concerned. 
Even  in  some  places  where  conscientious  work  has  been  carried 
out  on  sound  theory  the  past  season  shows  divergent  results,  and 
for  philosophic  minds  there  is  no  dearth  of  mysteries  yet  to  be 
fathomed.  There  are,  indeed,  things  yet  undreamt  of  in  our 
philosophy.  Why  is  it  that  in  some  localities  where  all  conditions, 
even  those  of  treatment,  are  similar,  such  variable  results 
are  now  noticeable  ?  In  one  garden  excellent  Pears  are  to  be  seen 
whilst  Apples  are  but  poorly  represented  ;  in  a  neighbouring 
garden  these  conditions  are  reversed  ;  and  still  again,  and  with 
good  horticulturists  too,  the  fruit  report  is  in  the  one  case  “  good  ” 
in  the  other  “  Bad  ”  (with  a  big  B). 
A  pleasant  autumn  task  is  that  of  gathering  and  storing  good 
specimens  of  Apples  and  Pears,  as  the  discerning  eye  notes  the 
propitious  time  for  each  variety.  That  noble  autumn  Apple — 
Ecklinville — is  now  in  perfection  on  the  fruit-room  shelves,  and, 
kitchen  Apple  as  it  is,  there  is  not,  to  my  mind,  any  dessert  variety 
more  palatable  than  its  mellow  flesh  and  sub-acid  flavour  during  a 
spell  of  tropical  heat.  And  how  satisfactory  it  was  in  having 
the  finest  of  weather  for  lifting  the  Potato  crops  ;  and  how 
sound,  large,  and  clean  the  tubers  revealed  themselves  as  the  work 
went  on. 
But  we  must  go  to  the  woods  to  note  the  rich  colours  ;  and  who 
could  tire  during  the  short-lived  season  of  wandering  through 
Nature’s  picture  gallery  ?  Could  all  the  skill  or  art  of  man  re¬ 
produce  under  glass  with  the  richest  of  foliage  plants  aught  that 
can  rival  this  lavish  wealth  of  colour  ?  Here  is  a  Beech  with  old 
gold  streamers  pendent  through,  yet  unchanged,  branches  of  green  ; 
hundreds  of  fine  Beech,  yet  search  them  through  and  this  one  is 
unique  ;  Chestnuts  of  fiery  red  leafage,  which  the  first  breeze  will 
bring  to  the  ground  at  one  fell  swoop.  Scarlet  and  gold,  and 
green  above,  with  soft  fleecy  bobbing  tails  of  grey  below,  as  the 
bunnies  scamper  off  in  alarm  on  hearing  but  the  faintest  sound 
of  man  or  dog. 
Just  such  sights  as  are  common  now  through  our  native  land. 
Common  and  uncommon,  for  the  old  hand  (of  Nature),  so  skilful 
in  getting  up  these  fine  effects,  will  never  reproduce  them  on 
exactly  the  same  lines,  and  apart  from  sentiment  pertaining  to 
autumn  thoughts  we — gardeners — may  perhaps  note  the  possibilities 
of  contributing  at  planting  time  such  objects  as  the  great  painter 
will  seize  on  to  work  her  sovereign  will  at  this  season  of  the 
year,  and  so  heighten  or  prolong  its  inimitable  beauty.  —  The 
Gardener. 
WINTER  CUCUMBERS. 
During  the  summer  months  Cucumbers  can  be  grown  in  almost 
any  structure  with  success,  but  this  is  not  the  case  when  a  supply 
has  to  be  maintained  during  the  winter.  The  best  of  con¬ 
veniences  are  essential  to  success.  They  cannot  be  satisfactorily 
grown  with  other  plants  beneath  them  as  may  be  done  during  the 
more  favourable  months  of  the  year.  The  structare  for  this  purpose 
must  be  of  the  lightest  description,  with  plenty  of  bottom  and  top 
heat  at  command.  A  temperature  of  from  60°  to  70°  at  night  must 
be  maintained,  with  a  rise  of  5°  by  day  at  the  least.  This  should 
be  obtained  without  having  to  over-heat  the  pipes.  Nothing  is 
more  detrimental  to  the  well-being  of  these  plants  than  making  the 
pipes  burning  hot,  as  the  foliage  is  certain  to  be  attacked  by  red 
spider.  If  the  temperature  cannot  be  readily  maintained  without 
over-heating  the  pipes  it  is  almost  useless  to  attempt  the  culture 
of  Cucumbers  in  the  winter. 
Applications  of  insecticides  and  other  strong  measures  would 
soon  destroy  them  ;  in  fact,  if  the  syringe  be  used  frequently 
enough  to  keep  the  red  spider  in  check  it  would  do  more  harm 
than  good  ;  the  plants  at  the  most  trying  period  of  the  season 
would  be  certain  to  fail.  Under  any  circumstances  the  tempera¬ 
ture  must  be  regulated  by  external  conditions.  When  the  weather 
proves  severe  the  lowest  named  only  should  be  maintained  ;  in 
fact,  if  the  thermometer  reads  60°  early  in  the  morning  and  then 
rises  it  will  be  more  suitable  to  the  plants  than  a  higher  degree. 
On  mild  occasions,  when  it  is  45°  to  50°  outside,  the  highest  figures 
may  be  kept  up  with  beneficial  results  to  the  plants.  The  supply 
of  bottom  heat  is  equally  as  important  as  the  top,  and  should  range 
from  75°  to  80°,  the  same  conditions  being  observed  as  advised  for 
the  top. 
The  manner  in  which  the  bottom  heat  is  applied  is  also 
important.  It  is  a  great  mistake  to  have  the  pipes  any  great 
depth  below  the  base  of  the  soil,  and  it  is  equally  bad,  if  not  worse, 
'  to  have  them  arranged  so  that  they  unduly  dry  the  soil.  In  the 
arrangement  of  a  house  for  this  purpose  preference  would  be  given 
to  a  plan  whereby  the  pipes  could  be  utilised  for  both  top  and 
bottom  heat.  They  would  not  be  confined,  but  slates  half  an  inch 
thick,  or  nearly,  could  be  laid  practically  on  the  top  of  them  ;  in 
fact,  they  would  be  arranged  so  that  the  flanges  of  the  pipes  were 
just  clear.  A  space  of  2  or  3  inches  would  be  left  near  the  outer 
walls  of  the  house,  or  even  the  width  space  of  a  4-inch  pipe. 
This  insures  the  whole  of  the  soil  in  which  the  plants  are  growing 
being  of  a  uniform  temperature.  However  much  piping  may  be 
employed  for  bottom  heat,  if  the  soil  is  against  the  outer  walls  it 
is  damp  the  whole  season,  and  many  degrees  colder  than  that 
nearer  the  inner  walls  of  the  house. 
Such  arrangements  materially  lower  the  temperature  of  the  soil 
throughout,  and  have  a  very  detrimental  effect  on  the  plants. 
If  the  bottom  heat  pipes  are  enclosed  within  the  bed  the  chamber 
for  them  should  be  covered  with  earth,  not  filled  in  with  rubble 
as  too  often  is  done.  There  should  also  be  room  between  the 
outer  wall  and  that  of  the  bed  for  one  or  more  top  heat  pipes. 
Slates  absorb  heat  quickly,  and  it  is  imparted  to  the  soil  without 
having  that  drying  effect  which  is  the  case  when  the  pipes  are 
merely  covered  with  loose  rubble.  When  a  coating  of  dry  material 
is  formed  over  the  rubble  the  heat  fails  to  pass  through  to  the  soil 
above.  If  slates  are  used  it  is  not  wise  to  lay  the  soil  directly 
upon  them,  for  they  hold  water  by  this  means  to  an  extent  that 
cannot  fail  to  be  serious.  This  evil  is  overcome  by  placing  on  the 
slates  about  2  inches  of  drainage,  which  allows  superfluous  water 
to  pass  away  readily. 
There  can  be  no  doubt  that  a  lean-to  structure  facing  south, 
with  a  shed  or  other  building  behind  it,  is  the  best  for  winter 
Cucumbers,  being  much  warmer  than  a  span-roofed  house  in  any 
i.  position,  although  they  can  be  grown  in  the  latter  if  it  runs  north 
and  south.  If  it  runs  east  and  west  those  on  the  south  side  may 
do  well,  while  those  on  the  north  will  not  succeed.  It  is  a  general 
custom  to  arrange  the  v/ires  on  which  to  train  the  plants  14  or 
16  inches  from  the  glass,  thinking  that  the  nearer  to  the  glass  the 
better  they  are.  This  is  the  case  with  those  grown  during  the 
spring  and  summer,  provided  the  foliage  has  room  to  develop 
itself.  But  for  winter  culture  the  case  is  different.  The  wires 
<  should  be  20  inches  from  the  glass,  and  it  would  be  better  for  the 
plants  if  they  were  2  feet  away.  The  footstalks  of  the  leaves  are 
very  liable  to  grow  longer  during  the  winter  than  when  they  can 
enjoy  plenty  of  light  and  air  through  the  summer.  V\'hen  planted 
at  only  the  ordinary  distance  from  the  glass  they  are  apt  to  crowd 
themselves  against  it  and  hold  too  much  moisture.  Another 
advantage,  and  the  principal  one,  is  that  they  are  much  warmer 
than  when  close  to  the  glass,  and  not  so  liable  to  injury  from  cold. 
Those  who  intend  growing  Cucumbers  through  the  winter 
should  plant  the  whole,  or  part  of  their  early  house,  in  June  or 
the  beginning  of  the  nest  month,  so  that  they  can  insure  a  supply 
