A dictionary of modern gardening - University Library

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"The flow-pipe a is put half its di- 1 Training.—There
ameter into the channel c, which when training |
filled with water, (or so for as is neces- upon ,
is no doubt that
near the glass of the frames
a trellis, makes the cucumber vine
sary,) gives off a vapour, exactly pro- more prolific, and more enduring. Inportionable
to the heat of the pipe and deed, if trained with proper care, the
pit
" The third requisition is produced
by the surrounding atmosphere and heat-
same vine may be made to bear throughout
the year.
Hand Glass Crops.—The first sowing
materials.
ings for these crops must be in the last
" The fourth is accomplished simply ;
weeks of March ; to be repeated in
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;
two
by lowering the upper sash; the cold the middle of April and May. The seed
air thus entering at the top only, falls may be inserted in a moderate hot-bed
directly into the passage b, and passes under hand-glasses, or in the upper side
through the hot chamber before coming of one of the frames already in producin
contact with the plants. In order to tion, either in pots as directed for the
test the circulation, I fixed a piece of frame crops, or in the mould of thebed,
paper near the front of the pit, and
found the current to be so strong as to
bend it backwards and give it a tremulous
motion. When the heat in the
to be pricked into similar situation
when of four or five days' growth, in-
serting only two plants, however, in
each pot. They must remain in the
hotbed until of about a month's growth,
chamber is 95=', in the open space over ,
the bed it is 71^ ; in the bottom of the or until they have attained four rough
passage only 60^ ; and in the mould in leaves ; being then stopped as before
directed they are fit for ridging out
the bed it is 80=.
'• The amount of vapour is regulated
with the greatest facility, even from the
smallest quantity to the greatest density."—
Card. Chron.
Mr. Latter, one of the most success
finally.
The ridges may be founded on the
surface, or in trenches a foot and a half
deep, in either case forming them of
i
,
well prepared hot dung, three or four
ful of cucumber growers, employs hot feet wide and two and a half high ; the_
water, and he gives me these leading length being governed by the number of
points in his culture. He sows in the hand-glasses, between each of which
first week of September, and the vines three feet and a half must be allowed,
from this sowing will be in bearing and The earth is to be laid on eight inches
very strong before February. The ;
; when this becomes warm the
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seedlings are first shifted into sixty
thick
plants may be inserted two, or at most
sized pots, secondly into twenty-fours, three, under each glass,
and lastly into the largest size. If to be Watering, airing, covering, &c., must
trained on a trellis, the runner must be conducted with the precautions dinot
be stopped until it has, trained to a rected to be practised for the frame
stick, grown through the trellis. The crops. The glasses should be kept on
long as possible without detriment to
temperature in the pit or frame is kept as j
as nearly 65= as possible during the the plants to prolong the time the run-
i ;
night, and from 75= to 85= during the ners must be made to grow perpendicu-
da'y ; air being admitted night and day, ;
; and still further to protract their
larly
little or much, according to the state ofi continuance, if the season is inclement,
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the weather. The bottom heat (Mr. the glasses may be raised on bricks.
Latter is the champion of the hot-water When no longer capable of confinesystem)
is kept as near as can be to 70=, ment, the runners must be pegged down
although he finds that 85= does not regularly, advantage being taken of a
hurt the plants. He waters them with cool cloudy day to perform it in but
;
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soft water until February, and then the glasses, even now, may be con-
; employs liquid manure, taking care that tinned over the centre of the plants
the temperature of the liquid is always until the close of May or early .Tune,
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from 75= to 80=. The earth over the with considerable advantage. Weeds
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hot water tank or pipes ought not to be must be carefully removed. Waterings
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less than fifteen inches deep. Daring should be performed as often as appears
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severe frosts it is an excellent plan to necessary.
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keep a small floating light burning with- If there ! be a scarcity of dung in the
in the frame every night. last week in April, or during May, cir-
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