,,theory ,,and ,,practice1   ,,applied  
,,to ,,the   ,,cultivation   ,,of       
,,the ,,cucumber1   ,,in ,,the          
,,winter ,,season3    ,,to ,,which ,,is 
,,added1   ,a ,,chapter ,,on ,,melons3  
,,by ,,thomas ,,moore1   ,,member ,,of  
,,the ,,botanical ,,society ,,of        
,,london4    ,,second ,,edition1        
,,with ,,an ,,appendix1 ,,containing    
,,remarks ,,on ,,heating   ,,aerating1  
,,and ,,covering ,,forcing ,,houses2    
,,on   ,,transplanting1 ,,and ,,the     
,,use ,,of ,,turf ,,pots2 ,,on          
,,watering2 ,,on ,,atmospheric          
,,humidity1 c41 c4    ,,london3         
,,richard ,,groombridge ,,and ,,sons1   
#e ,,paternoster ,,row4    ,,mdcccxlvii4
      ,,london3   ,,printed ,,by ,,david
 ,m4 ,,aied   ,,james ,,st41 ,,covent   
,,garden4     ,,preface ,,to ,,the      
,,first ,,edition4   ,this little       
treatise is intended as an inducement to
 young ,gardeners especially1 to seek   
for the reasons on which the operations 
of their daily practice are founded1 and

 by which they are regulated4 ,this     
announcement is here made1 in order to  
prevent any reader from supposing that  
the author has unduly estimated the     
opinions of those who have benefited by 
a long course of application and        
experience4 ,as1 however1 there can be  
no doubt that there is much to be       
learned1 so is there but little question
 that there is also much to be          
unlearned1 in the present state of the  
,science of ,horticulture2 and these    
pages are offered without hesitation1 as
 a mite among the accumulating mass of  
available information on gardening      
subjects2 and in the hope that some     
amongst those who are seeking to extend 
their knowledge1 may at least be        
stimulated by their perusal1 if they are
 not otherwise directly benefited4  ,the
 great truths which it is the object of 
this treatise to impress1 are these3    
that the ultimate success of gardening  
operations does not depend on the       
performance of any part of them1 at a   

particular time1 or in a particular or  
even superior manner1 but rather upon   
the supplying1 in a natural manner1 as  
far as possible1 all the conditions     
which are necessary to the nutrition and
 perpetuation of plants2 and1 that it is
 within the open pathway of ,science1   
and not the bye-ways of empiricism1 that
 the finger-post of direction should be 
sought4  ,royal ,botanic ,garden1       
,regent's ,park1  ,march #bnd1 #ahdd4   
,,to ,,the ,,second ,,edition4   ,in the
 present edition1 it has been thought   
best to preserve the original text      
exactly as it appeared in the first     
edition4 ,the new matter will be found  
in the ,appendix4  ,the author may take 
this opportunity of returning his thanks
 to those who have noticed and commended
 the former edition1 and of expressing a
 hope that the present will receive an  
equal share of favour4  ,camden ,town1  
,aug4 #a1 #ahdg4     ,,contents4        
,,chap4 ,i4                             
,,page    ,botanical name1 and          

affinities of the                       
,cucumber--properties--   foreign       
names--improvements in cultivation      
#i     ,,chap4 ,,ii4                    
,structures--dung beds--brick           
pits--forcing houses--gutter   system of
 heating--the tank system--bottom       
heat--description   of ,cucumber        
house--aspect--position--angle--covering
                #aa     ,,chap4 ,,iii4  
,propagation by cuttings--early         
fruitfulness--preservation of           
varieties--layers--objections to        
cuttings and layers--seeds--            
disadvantages--progressive growth--seed 
sowing                      #bc         
,,chap4 ,,iv4    ,general principles of 
culture--importance of light--pruning   
and training                            
#ca     ,,chap4 ,v4    ,composition of  
the soil--heath soil--leaf              
mould--preparation   of                 
soil--charcoal--manures--liquid manures 
#cf     ,,chap4 ,,vi4    ,application of
 water to the soil--special conditions--

   atmospheric                          
moisture--insects--mildew--canker--mode 
of watering     #db     ,,chap4 ,,vii4  
,regulation of temperature--principles  
to be kept in view--day   and night     
temperature--deductions                 
#df     ,,chap4 ,,viii4    ,admission of
 air--effect of cold air on tender      
plants--   deterioration--evils         
resulting from unguarded atmospheric    
changes--mode of admitting              
air--atmospheric influence on           
vegetation--nitrogen--carbon            
#ej     ,,chap4 ,,ix4    ,growth of     
,persian ,melons in                     
summer--peculiarities of                
treatment--soil--watering--solar        
heat--light                        #ef  
,,chap4 ,x4    ,conclusion              
#ei     ,,treatise4     ,,chap4 ,i4     
,,introductory ,,remarks4   ,the        
,cucumber1 ,cucumis sativa1 is supposed 
to be a native of the ,east ,indies2 but
 like many other of our culinary plants1
 the real stations which it naturally   

has occupied1 are involved in obscurity3
 in habit it is a trailing herb1 with   
thick fleshy stems1 broadly palmate     
leaves1 and yellow axillary moncious    
flowers4 ,in the natural arrangement of 
the vegetable kingdom1 the genus of     
which it forms part1 ranks in the first 
grand class1 ,vasculares1 or those      
plants which are furnished with vessels1
 and woody fibre2 in the sub-class      
,calyciflor1 or those in which the      
stamens are perigynous2 and in the order
 ,cucurbitace1 or that group1 of which  
the genus ,cucurbita1 or ,gourd family  
is the type4  ,the affinities of this   
order1 are chiefly with ,loasace1 and   
,onagrace2 with the former it agrees in 
its inferior unilocular fruit1 having a 
parietal placent1 and with the latter1  
in its definite perigynous stamens1     
single style1 and exalbuminous seeds4   
,it has also some affinity with         
,passiflorace1 and ,papayace1 in the    
nature of the fruit1 and with           
,aristolochiace1 in its twining habit1  

and inferior ovarium4 ,m4 ,auguste ,st4 
,hiliare1 also regards it as being      
related to ,campanulace1 in the         
perigynous insertion of the stamens1 the
 single style with several stigmas1 the 
inferior ovarium1 and in the quinary    
division of the floral envelope1 in     
connection with the ternary division of 
the fruit4  ,the properties of the      
plants comprised in this natural family1
 are not numerous2 a bitter laxative    
quality pervades many of them1 a        
familiar example of which is the        
resinous substance called ,colycinthine1
 the production of the ,colocynth gourd1
 in which the active purgative principle
 is concentrated1 rendering it drastic1 
and irritating4 ,among our native plants
 the roots of ,bryonia dioica1 in common
 with the perennial roots of all the    
plants in the order1 possess these      
purgative properties4 ,on the other     
hand1 the seeds are sweet1 yielding an  
abundant supply of oil2 and it may be   
worthy of remark1 that they never       

partake of the properties of the pulp   
with which they are surrounded in the   
fruit4  ,the ,cucumber does not possess 
the properties common to the order1 in  
very powerful degree2 its fruit is      
however too cold for many persons1      
causing flatulency1 diarrhoea1 and even 
cholera2 by others1 it may be eaten with
 avidity1 without producing any         
injurious effects4  ,the names by which 
the ,cucumber is recognised by the      
,hindoos1 are ,ketimon1 and ,timou4 ,in 
the ,french1 it is called ,concombre2 in
 the ,german1 ,gurke2 and in the        
,italian1 ,citriuolo4 ,as a cultivated  
plant1 it is of nearly equal antiquity  
with the ,vine2 being mentioned by the  
writer of the ,pentateuch1 as being     
cultivated extensively in ,egypt1 above 
#cjjj years since4  ,the cultivation of 
this plant1 and the production of fine  
fruit at an early season1 is an object  
of emulation among gardeners of the     
present day2 and from this cause1 many  
important improvements in the mode of   

its cultivation have been effected4 ,the
 vast increase of means1 arising from an
 acquaintance with powerful agents1     
formerly unknown1 which are available by
 the present and rising races of        
gardeners1 enable them to secure the    
same important results which cost their 
predecessors much both of labour and    
anxiety1 with a comparatively small     
amount of the former1 and a degree of   
certainty at which they could never     
arrive4 ,the agents which an enlightened
 age has brought under controul1 are    
indeed powerful engines1 which require  
much skill in their adaptation and      
management2 but the knowledge necessary 
to effect this1 is so firmly and        
inseparably connected with the first    
principles of cultivation1 that an      
acquaintance with these1 will at all    
times supply a safe and unerring guide  
to their application4  ,it is to assist 
the young gardener in this application  
of principles1 to the growth of the     
,cucumber in the winter season1 that    

these pages are designed2 and of those  
who may differ from the opinions which  
are here expressed1 it is only required 
that they should receive a calm and     
deliberate consideration--a             
consideration unbiassed by prejudice1   
and unmixed with any of that feverish   
excitement after novelties1 which with  
gardeners1 as well as with all other    
classes of society1 is becoming far too 
prevalent1 and intense4     ,,chap4     
,,ii4  ,,on ,,the ,,structures ,,adapted
 ,,for ,,the ,,growth ,,of ,,cucumbers4 
,i will preface the following remarks on
 the structures adapted for the growth  
of ,cucumbers1 by stating1 that a       
forcing house1 a pit1 and a common      
frame1 present the means of bringing    
this fruit to its perfection1 equally1  
one with the other1 provided that a     
course of cultivation suitable to the   
structure1 is followed out2 the         
comparative merits of each1 depend not  
so much on the nature of the results    
which may be obtained by adopting them1 

as on the facilities they afford for the
 attainment of those results4  ,the use 
of the common frame1 and the ordinary   
hotbed of fermenting manure1            
nevertheless involves these             
difficulties3--the fermentation is      
liable to become excessive1 and that in 
a very rapid manner1 and also to decline
 as rapidly2 the heat1 when declining1  
cannot be speedily restored in          
unpropitious weather2 it is materially  
checked in its action1 by that          
particular state of the weather1 which  
renders its efficient action most       
essential2 it involves almost an        
infinitude of labour2 and after all1 it 
is uncertain in its action3 when such   
difficulties as these1 are overcome1    
,cucumbers can be grown to perfection1  
on dung beds1 assisted by the common    
garden frame and sash4  ,the brick pit1 
when heated by fermenting manure1       
presents difficulties of the same nature
 with the preceeding1 though in a less  
powerful degree3 but when these         

structures are heated by means of hot   
water1 in any of its various modes of   
application1 there need be no           
irregularity1 nor uncertainty in its    
action2 because the supply of the       
elements of vegetable developement1 and 
of the agents by whose aid they are     
applied1 may1 to a very great extent1 go
 on uninterruptedly4  ,a forcing house1 
whilst it secures all the advantages    
which are presented by a pit1 combines  
with these1 some important points which 
are peculiarly its own3 by adopting a   
pit1 we provide a structure of which    
,cucumbers manifest their approval1 by  
thriving equally as well as in their    
more ancient location on a dung bed2 but
 further than this1 a pit enables us to 
dispense with much of the labour1 and   
all the filth1 and the uncertainty which
 are consequent on the use of fermenting
 manure as a means of keeping up the    
temperature in which they are grown4 ,in
 a small forcing house1 besides these   
advantages being secured1 all the       

operations of care and culture1 can be  
performed just when they become         
necessary1 without exposing the tender  
foliage of plants which have been       
submitted to an artificially elevated   
temperature1 to the chilling influence  
of cold air1 which is admitted whenever 
the sashes of an ordinary frame or of a 
pit1 are opened1 in order to bestow     
these necessary attentions4 ,it may be  
urged that a dung bed has still the     
advantage1 on the ground of economy2 but
 when a fair calculation is made of     
labour and loss or anxiety on the one   
hand1 and of duration on the other1 such
 an assumption1 will be quite untenable4
 ,neatness1 convenience1 certainty1 and 
economy1 are the principal points of    
advantage which are gained by the       
adoption of pits heated by means of hot 
water1 over those of a structure1       
depending for its supply of heat1 on the
 aid of fermenting masses2 whilst the   
attainment of a still greater degree    
both of convenience1 and of certainty1  

which may be secured by cultivation in  
forcing houses1 point out at once the   
advantages which render such houses1    
preferable to pits4  ,the application of
 the gutter system of heating1 was not  
long since thought to be an improvement 
of great importance1 and there can be no
 question but that it affords a means of
 regulating the moisture of the         
atmosphere of hothouses1 in conjunction 
with the temperature1 which prior to its
 introduction had not been attained2 and
 as such1 it is worthy of extensive     
adoption3 it requires however some      
judgement in its adaptation to          
particular structures1 and to render1 it
 suitable1 to effect any particular     
object for which it may be employed4    
,the tank system as a means of applying 
bottom heat1 employed either in         
conjunction with the gutters1 or with   
ordinary piping1 to supply heat to the  
atmosphere1 is the most important       
advance which has hitherto been made    
towards supplying the wants of those    

plants1 which require such peculiar aid2
 and with reference to the ,cucumber1 it
 may be regarded as furnishing a new era
 in its cultivation4  ,the importance of
 bottom heat in the culture of tender   
plants1 has always been well known by   
its practical effects4 ,the mean        
temperature of the soil1 at a slight    
distance below the surface1 is          
universally above that of the           
superincumbent air2 and consequently    
some degree of bottom heat is always    
supplied to plants1 in a state of       
nature4 ,naturally1 by means of         
subterraneous heat1 and also by the     
absorption of the sun's rays during the 
time they are forcibly directed towards 
the earth1 it possesses the means       
whereby any material degree of cold at  
the roots of plants is prevented2 and   
when the soil is acted on by the        
unveiled sun of an eastern sky1 we      
cannot but feel certain1 that even a    
considerable amount of heat must be     
experienced3 hence arises the importance

 of taking advantage of every ray of sun
 which our climate affords1 when the    
culture of the ,cucumber1 or of any     
native of warmer latitudes1 is attempted
 out of doors in this country2 and also 
of using every possibly available means 
of increasing rather than diminishing   
the temperature of the soil3 and hence  
too1 in forcing not only the ,cucumber1 
but also every other plant which        
requires to be submitted to a confined  
atmosphere1 and an elevated temperature1
 arises the necessity of providing such 
a degree of warmth at the root1 as may  
tend to keep its vital powers in a      
vigorous state of action2 it will effect
 this1 by acting in conjunction with    
moisture1 as a solvent of the food which
 is primarily contained in the soil in a
 solid form1 but can only be taken up by
 the capillary action of the spongioles 
of the roots1 when converted into a     
fluid state4 ,the science of ,chemistry 
has taught us that the ingredients      
composing the soil1 act on1 and         

dissolve1 and combine with each other in
 various ways1 sometimes being simply   
dissolved and held in solution1 and at  
other times1 entering into new          
combinations1 and forming new compounds2
 but in all cases1 the natural agents1  
heat and moisture1 are necessary to     
produce these results1 and to present to
 the tender roots of plants1 food so    
duly prepared1 as to be fit for their   
assimilation4 ,warmth in the soil1 acts 
beneficially also1 by preventing the    
sudden or undue interruption of the     
excitability of plants growing in it1   
which would be likely to result from the
 lowering of the temperature of the     
plants by evaporation1 were it not for  
the action of the antagonist force1     
existing in and exercised by the heated 
soil1 which heat1 is communicated to1   
and absorbed by the plants4  ,it may be 
regarded as an established and universal
 rule1 that all plants require the soil1
 and the atmosphere in which they are   
cultivated1 to correspond with the      

natural circumstances under which they  
flourish2 and as it has been repeatedly 
ascertained that the soil is naturally a
 degree or two above the temperature of 
the atmosphere1 we have certain and     
unerring data for the application of    
bottom heat1 and no more powerful       
evidence than this can be desired1 to   
condemn at once the application of a    
very powerful degree of heat1 at the    
roots of plants4  ,the importance of    
bottom heat in the culture of tender    
plants1 being a practical fact          
established beyond question1 another    
consideration arises as to the best     
means of producing it1 and of regulating
 its application4 ,various substances   
and materials have been submitted to a  
process of fermentation1 and so employed
 to effect it3 stable manure1 tanner's  
bark1 and the leaves of trees1 are among
 the principal of these materials1 and  
either of them will supply just what the
 plants require1 as truly as these wants
 can be supplied by any other means2 but

 from their very nature1 they are       
violent1 and fluctuating1 and ephemeral 
in their action1 and setting aside the  
labour which the employment of them     
necessarily involves1 we have in these  
particulars1 the special points in which
 the tank system of applying bottom heat
 far excels them3 it is uniform1 and    
constant1 in its action2 there need be  
no apprehension of the soil becoming    
overheated1 for the source whence it    
derives its warmth ought never to boil2 
neither need there be any fear of its   
decline1 or of a want of power1 for when
 once thoroughly heated1 a body of water
 will part with it in such a manner1    
that a very little attention to the     
fire1 and a very little expenditure of  
fuel1 will maintain its temperature for 
an almost incredible length of time2 and
 as to power1 it never should for a     
moment form a question1 because a       
powerful degree of bottom heat ought    
never to be applied3 a close attention  
for one or two hours during the twenty  

four which form a day1 will maintain any
 apparatus in an effective state of     
action1 if it is properly erected4 ,how 
different is this1 to what has been in  
days now past6 when in rigorous weather1
 with the heat of his dung bed          
declining1 the cultivator knew that at  
the peril of his crop1 he scarcely dared
 to attempt to revive it1 without       
involving a more serious because an     
accelerated evil2 at any rate1 if at an 
immense sacrifice of labour1 his dung   
casings were replenished piece by piece1
 he knew too well1 that often many days 
would elapse1 before their action would 
be efficient and satisfactory1 unless   
indeed an unlimited supply of materials1
 were in a constant state of            
preparation4 ,by means of the tank1 a   
fire could be lighted up1 and the       
required effect produced in as many     
hours1 as days would have been formerly 
required4  ,what has been already       
advanced1 tends to the conclusion1 that 
small forcing houses are preferable1 and

 in the end more economical than pits   
and dung beds2 and that the tank as a   
means of supplying bottom heat1 is      
preferable to the use of fermenting     
materials2 because the results in each  
case1 are more perfectly under controul4
 ,whilst on this part of the subject1 ,i
 may be allowed to mention an error     
which is somewhat prevalent3 ,we        
frequently hear of the humid nature of  
the heat given off by hot water pipes1  
in comparison with that derived from    
such appliances1 as a flue2 it is not   
unfrequently asserted1 that the heat    
thus derived is so moist1 so genial1 so 
peculiarly adapted to plants3 there can 
be no doubt but that the heat thus      
obtained is infinitely preferable to    
that obtained through the medium of     
flues1 generally speaking2 but its      
superiority consists rather in its      
purity1 its freeness from noxious       
gasses1 than in its possessing a greater
 degree of moisture4 ,heat--that        
is--caloric1 is the same1 whatever may  

be the medium by which it may be        
conducted2 and in the case of hot water 
pipes1 they give off that which has been
 conducted to them by the water1        
directly from the fire1 the water acting
 as a mere conductor2 it is difficult to
 conceive any thing more thoroughly     
devoid of moisture than the heat thus   
communicated3 let any one who doubts    
this1 place a damp cloth on a series of 
hot water pipes when in action1 and the 
result will soon work conviction4 ,with 
these general remarks1 ,i will proceed  
to describe the kind of structure which 
,i regard as being peculiarly adapted to
 the growth of ,cucumbers2 and notice   
some of the conditions which it is      
necessary to keep in view3 the engraving
 on the next page1 represents such a    
structure4  ,the aspect of the ,cucumber
 house1 should be nearly ,s4,s4,e2 or in
 other words--it should be so regulated 
between the points south and east1 that 
whilst the rays of the sun will be      
admitted as fully and as early as       

possible in the morning1 there may be no
 obstruction offered to their more      
powerful action as that body approaches 
the meridian4 ,in the growth of all     
tender plants1 light and sun heat are   
required during the winter months as    
well as in summer1 and there can be no  
greater error as regards the erection of
 structures devoted to such purposes1   
than to provide for their admitting the 
direct rays of the sun in the earlier   
part of the day1 at the expense of      
refracting and thereby weakening1 to a  
greater degree than is really           
unavoidable1 the power of the noon-tide 
rays of that invigorating and           
life-sustaining agent3 during the summer
 months1 though plants then require both
 light and sun heat1 yet the case is    
different2 the sun's rays have then much
 greater power1 and it is found that    
their influence is sufficient1 without  
at all times admitting them directly on 
the plants growing in these artificial  
atmospheres4   ,illustration   ,the     

position of the ,cucumber house1 with   
reference to the ground line1 must be   
determined by local circumstances2 if   
the situation and sub-soil be dry1 it   
may be carried below the surface in the 
manner represented in the annexed       
engraving1 of which 7a7 is the ground   
line1 7b7 the pathway1 and 7c7 the      
lowest point excavated3 the same course 
may be adopted if the soil1 though not  
naturally so dry as this1 can be        
rendered so by thorough drainage2 but   
when the ground does not admit of       
perfect drainage1 the structure must be 
sufficiently elevated to avoid the risk 
of injury from the dampness of the      
locality4  ,the angle of elevation is   
not1 as it is sometimes asserted to be1 
a point of indifference1 though         
mathematical accuracy is certainly by no
 means required3 in the annexed         
engraving1 the angle of the roof is     
about #ee1 this provides for the        
admission of the sun's rays in the      
winter months1 when his position is     

comparatively low in the horizon1 to a  
much greater extent than could take     
place if a more ordinary slope were     
adopted4 ,a still more elevated pitch   
would doubtless effect this object in a 
still more perfect manner2 but would not
 be equally applicable to the           
requirements from a permanent structure1
 which would be wanted for summer as    
well as winter use4  ,a reference to the
 sketch1 will at once shew the general  
nature of the internal arrangements4    
,there should be a tank 7d7 supported by
 brick piers 7p7 in which a circulation 
of heated water would supply a genial   
warmth to the soil above1 and to the    
roots of the plants growing in the soil2
 this tank should be heated by a small  
boiler1 conveniently placed with        
reference to adjacent arrangements2 a   
series of iron pipes 7e7 attached to the
 same boiler1 would supply the requisite
 heat to the atmosphere4 ,it may perhaps
 be thought that the application of the 
gutter system of heating would in this  

case be preferable2 but as there would  
be a perfect command of moisture1 as    
will be explained further on1 it is     
desirable to have dry heat also1 under  
controul1 and this can be better        
effected by means of the pipes than by  
adopting the gutter plan of heating4 ,i 
cannot in this place forbear protesting 
against the limited surface of piping   
generally employed in heating plant     
structures2 what is thought to be just  
enough to maintain a given temperature1 
is usually after minute calculation1 the
 quantity which is made use of1 and the 
consequence is1 that under adverse      
circumstances1 the apparatus is         
necessarily worked at its highest pitch2
 and ,i believe that the application of 
heat in this form1 whether it be by     
means of an hot water apparatus1 or by a
 common flue1 is most inimical to the   
plants submitted thereto4 ,the admission
 of air1 is a point which as far as ,i  
am aware1 has never been effected in the
 manner represented in the sketch3 it   

would be thus effected2--a series of    
apertures 7f7 should be provided at     
intervals along the front wall1 which   
would externally be closed by small     
sliding shutters1 and would communicate 
internally with a chamber 7g7 formed    
between the front wall and the side of  
the tank2 this chamber would also       
communicate1 by a series of openings1   
7h7 with the interior space above the   
water in the tank1 and from this space1 
through the covering of the tank1 tubes 
7m71 also placed at intervals1 would be 
carried up through the soil1 close to   
the side of the wall2 these tubes should
 be furnished with caps or valves1 so as
 so admit of the communication being    
stopped at any time4 ,in applying this  
to the admission of air1 we must not    
loose sight of a series of ventilators1 
7i71 placed in the back wall of the     
house1 which are of precisely the same  
nature and construction as the apertures
 7f71 already spoken of4 ,i shall have  
occasion hereafter1 to notice the       

admission of air1 but it will be well in
 this place1 to explain the action of   
the plan proposed for that purpose3 when
 it is judged that a change of the      
internal volume of air is requisite1 the
 ventilators 7i7 are to be opened1 which
 admits of a portion of the rarified air
 to pass off2 the ventilators 7f7 are   
also to be opened1 and by means of the  
action of these ventilators on each     
other1 a portion of external air is     
taken in2 this enters the chamber 7g71  
which is warmed by its contiguity to the
 tank1 and here becomes partially       
rarified1 and rises to the top of the   
chamber2 the apertures 7h7 admit it to  
the interior of the tank1 where it      
becomes not only thoroughly warmed1 but 
also imbibes a degree of moisture       
proportionate to the degree in which it 
becomes heated1 and thence it enters the
 house by the tubes or shafts already   
spoken of4 ,the advantages of warming   
and moistening the air thus admitted1   
are very important ones2 for when either

 a cold or dry state1 of the atmosphere 
prevails1 its influence is very         
injurious to plants in these confined   
situations3 cold raw air1 when it comes 
in contact with the tender foliage of   
the plants1 has the effect of chilling  
the sap in its progress through their   
tissue1 and thus lessening their        
excitability1 when it should be         
increased2 whilst dry air acts as an    
incessant drain upon the vegetable      
juices1 which it abstracts through the  
stomates and pores of the leaves and    
stems4 ,when cold air is admitted to any
 position where it can unite with       
caloric1 and not in an equal ratio with 
moisture1 it necessarily becomes arid1  
and in that state it eagerly combines   
with moisture in any form with which it 
can come in contact therewith2 and      
consequently if cold air is admitted to 
a plant structure1 where it can have the
 means of combining with heat1 faster   
than with moisture1 it would be brought 
into this arid state1 and would supply  

its voracious appetite1 by abstracting  
the juices of the plant4 ,it is a very  
important question how far this state of
 things is connected with many of the   
diseases as they are called1 to which   
plants are subject2 for my own part1 ,i 
believe it to have a very considerable  
influence in the production of many of  
them4 ,a shallow bed of soil 7k71 is all
 that would be required2 for in the     
winter season1 there is nothing gained  
by encouraging a very luxuriant and     
gross state of growth3 the composition  
of this soil will be noticed hereafter3 
beneath it1 and resting on the top of   
the tank1 should be placed a layer of   
coarse open rubble1 not less than six   
inches in thickness2 and among this     
rubble by means of tubes 7n71 placed at 
intervals along the bed1 ,i would       
occasionally pour considerable          
quantities of water1 in order to        
maintain a due regulation of moisture   
in1 and throughout the soil1 among which
 the vapour arising from the water would

 ultimately rise4 ,beneath the tank a   
space 7o71 might be provided1 which     
would serve admirably either for the    
cultivation of ,mushrooms1 or the       
forcing of ,rhubarb1 or ,sea ,kale4     
,transverse partitions should be        
introduced into the bed of soil1 so as  
to divide the roots of each plant from  
those of its neighbours3 this           
arrangement will admit of a complete    
succession of plants being maintained1  
by the removal of those which have      
become old and debilitated1 and the     
substitution of young and vigorous ones2
 and this obstruction of the roots1 will
 not be injurious1 for the ,cucumber    
does not by any means require to be     
permitted to extend its roots at random1
 but will readily submit itself to any  
rational regimen1 with regard to the    
area from whence it is permitted to     
extract its food4 ,a portion of soil    
sufficient to support one or two plants1
 could by this arrangement be renewed as
 occasion might require1 and the roots  

of the contiguous plants would suffer no
 injury from the operation4 ,the pathway
 of the house1 should be paved so as to 
admit of its being occasionally washed  
and cleansed4  ,it will be found to be  
highly economical in reference to the   
consumption of fuel1 to provide the     
structure with the means of being       
covered at night4 ,shutters of light    
frame-work1 covered with any waterproof 
material1 would be found to answer the  
purpose admirably2 they should be       
elevated a few inches from the surface  
of the glass1 and they should be        
arranged so as to confine a body of air1
 which acting as a very slow conductor  
of heat1 would serve to prevent that    
incessant drain upon the temperature of 
the internal atmosphere1 which takes    
place when the material employed is in  
contact with the glass1 as well as when 
coverings are altogether absent4 ,this  
would not be the only advantage1 for as 
the covering would to a great extent    
prevent the radiation of heat from the  

internal atmosphere1 so would it also   
prevent the necessity of the application
 of so powerful a degree of fire heat at
 night2 and thus the plants would be    
permitted to enjoy that natural season  
of repose so essential to their well    
being1 instead of being forced into     
growth by reason of a high temperature  
kept up1 solely for the purpose of      
obviating the external cold4     ,,chap4
 ,,iii4  ,,on ,,the ,,propagation ,,of  
,,the ,,cucumber4   ,cucumbers are      
propagated by cuttings1 by layers1 and  
by seeds2 the two former of these       
methods being frequently practised by   
those who have conveniences to keep     
their plants growing throughout the     
year2 the latter being adopted either   
through choice or necessity1 by the     
majority of cultivators1 or those whose 
means will not enable them1 even if they
 desired it1 to keep up continually a   
successional growth4  ,propagation by   
cuttings has many advantages to         
recommend it1 especially when viewed in 

connection with the production of winter
 fruit4 ,the plants raised by this mode 
of treatment1 in comparison with those  
raised from seeds1 are less gross and   
succulent in their nature1 and more     
subdued in their manner of growth2      
whether it may be that having mature and
 perfectly formed parts1 they are       
enabled to assimilate their food more   
rapidly1 than young and imperfectly     
formed plants can do2 or whether it is  
owing to any difference in the balance  
between the roots and leaves1 which     
latter organs1 in cuttings1 and the     
former1 in seedling plants1 may be      
regarded as predominant1 does not appear
 quite evident1 probably the effect     
depends partly on each of these supposed
 causes4 ,they are moreover1 sooner in  
arriving at a fruit-bearing state1 by   
reason of a universal natural law1 by   
which the inflorescence and             
fructification of a plant becomes more  
general and perfect1 in proportion as   
the plant attains proximity to its      

perfect developement2 which effect1 is  
owing to the more perfect elaboration   
and preparation of the materials1 which 
when so prepared1 furnish the means of  
perfecting the organs of reproduction4  
,for the same reason1 the operation of  
budding a portion of a seedling fruit   
tree1 on a matured stem1 is practised1  
in order to accelerate its fruitfulness2
 which result generally follows1 in     
consequence of the difference existing  
in the nature of the food elaborated by 
the mature plant1 and that deposited by 
one in an infant state4 ,thus it is     
also1 that cuttings of flowering plants 
generally1 are far sooner in arriving at
 a blooming state1 than seedling plants 
of the same species3 flowers and fruit  
being formed only by the aid of the     
perfectly elaborated sap2 which is taken
 up into the system1 and assimilated in 
the plant1 in proportion to the number  
of healthy and mature leaves1 in a full 
state of action3 during the younger     
stages of growth1 the crude material    

imbibed from the soil1 is only partially
 elaborated1 and in this state1 is only 
converted into food suitable and        
destined to increase the foliaceous     
organs2 but when these latter are in    
full and vigorous action1 a supply of   
matter1 not increased in quantity1 but  
enriched in quality1 becomes laid up in 
the store-house and structure of the    
plants2 and it is by means of this      
matter1 aided by the natural agents1    
that the nature of the developement is  
changed from being simply that of the   
organs of nutrition1 to that of the more
 perfect and important organs of        
reproduction4 ,besides the precocity of 
plants propagated by cuttings1 there is 
also another advantage resulting from   
the practice1 and that is the           
preservation of particularly desirable  
varieties2 the ,cucumber is a plant     
which readily admits of hybridization1  
and although the result of this is      
sometimes to give rise to superior      
varieties1 yet if impregnation is       

permitted to take place promiscuously1  
the bad qualities of particular         
varieties1 are as likely to be combined 
in the succeeding race1 as the good and 
desirable ones3 this renders it         
important that the fruit which are      
preserved for seed1 should have been    
carefully watched and protected when in 
blossom1 from the reach of insects2     
which often effect the requisite union1 
in consequence of the pollen adhering to
 their bodies1 and thus being brought   
into contact with the stigma4 ,i need   
scarcely to say1 that where only one    
variety is grown in any particular      
structure1 the chances of admixture are 
less numerous4  ,the manner in which the
 operation of propagation by cutting is 
performed1 is very simple3 the tops of  
healthy growing shoots are taken off1 at
 about two or three joints in length2   
they are then planted in deep pots1     
which are about half filled with light  
earth1 such as decayed vegetable matter1
 and then covered by laying a piece of  

glass on the top of the pot2 a simple   
and effective protection is thus formed1
 the sides of the pot acting as a       
partial shade1 the glass admitting light
 sufficiently abundant to secure the    
action of the leaves1 and maintaining a 
calm and moist atmosphere3 the pots are 
to be plunged in a gentle bottom heat1  
and the cuttings will soon become       
rooted2 after which they may be treated 
as established plants4  ,propagation by 
layers1 is another method similar to the
 last1 of which it is a mere            
modification2 and those points which    
mark the superiority of the one1 are    
equally applicable in the case of the   
other4 ,the operation may be performed  
in various ways3 thus the branches may  
be layered at once into the soil1 when  
these are trained close to its surface1 
and they will thus grow on with renewed 
vigour3 when required for removal to    
other positions1 they may be layered    
into pots of light soil1 in doing which1
 a convenient branch may be brought     

down1 secured firmly at a joint to the  
soil1 and slightly covered therewith1   
when it will soon become rooted3 another
 plan1 is1 to suspend in convenient     
places1 pots having large holes beneath2
 through these holes1 the points of     
growing shoots are introduced1 and the  
pots having a little moss in the bottom1
 are then lightly filled with vegetable 
mould3 they may also be propagated1 by  
enveloping a joint of a growing shoot   
lightly with moss2 the moss should be   
kept continually moist1 and roots will  
soon be emitted into it1 and when enough
 are produced1 the plant may be         
detached4  ,either of these methods of  
propagation will secure not only        
healthy1 but fruitful plants1 in a short
 space of time2 and this latter point   
will be found to be one of no small     
advantage4 ,the principal objection     
which may be urged against their        
adoption1 is that they necessarily      
involve a process of transplantation1   
which under any circumstances1 and      

however carefully performed1 must be    
regarded as an evil rather than         
otherwise4 ,it may be thought that the  
check arising from transplantation may  
do good1 by preventing too great        
luxuriance of growth1 and thereby       
tending to accelerate fruitfulness2 but 
even if this result may be apparently   
produced by such means1 it is surely far
 more natural to check the plants1 by   
withholding a portion of food1 rather   
than by mutilating the organs by which  
their food is conveyed to them1 and then
 actually placing them in a position    
where food is still more abundantly     
supplied than before4 ,it is very       
questionable however1 how far what is   
called a check is justifiable as a means
 of inducing fructification2 for if     
fructification be the most perfect state
 at which a plant can arrive1 there does
 not seem to be much rationality in     
adopting any such means as a check in   
bringing about this perfection of       
developement4 ,a check applied as a     

means of accelerating maturity1 can only
 be regarded as an expedient1 rendered  
necessary by previous defective         
treatment4  ,the most commonly practised
 as well as the most natural method of  
propagation1 is by seeds1 and this will 
generally be found to be also the best  
method1 if the conditions required by   
its adoption can be properly carried    
out4 ,there is however1 one decided     
disadvantage attendant on the raising of
 ,cucumber plants intended for winter   
forcing from seeds2 and hence in a great
 measure arises the apparent superiority
 of propagating by extension3 the       
disadvantage consists in the exceedingly
 succulent and lax nature of the tissue 
of the young plants2 owing to that      
natural principle1 by which their       
increase and extension is most          
especially provided for during the      
infant stages of their existence3 the   
result is1 that in consequence of the   
deficiency of light and solar heat1     
which are the grand agents of vegetable 

fructification1 their sap does not      
become sufficiently elaborated1 nor     
their tissue rendered sufficiently solid
 by assimilation and deposition of      
matter1 to bring about the developement 
of floral parts2 the food and moisture  
imbibed1 instead of being sublimated and
 fully elaborated1 is only partially    
acted on by the vital and natural       
agents1 and the result is an increase of
 growth1 but not a developement of      
fruit-bearing parts4 ,there is          
nevertheless1 an advantage in raising   
plants from seeds1 not only as regards  
the obtaining of improved races1 but    
also in a cultural point of view4 ,the  
science of ,horticulture1 does          
acknowledge such a thing as progression1
 in the developement of plants2 the     
functions of nutrition necessarily go on
 prior to those of reproduction or      
fructification1 the latter being        
continually dependant on1 as well as    
being the result of the former3 hence we
 arrive at a conclusion1 that to supply 

uninterruptedly1 ,,all the elements     
which administer to the nutrition of a  
plant1 is the most rational means of    
inducing a state of fruitfulness4 ,this 
may at first sight be questioned2 cases 
may readily enough be quoted1 in which  
food has been bountifully supplied1 and 
the plants have grown amazingly1 but not
 fruited2 if however1 food had been thus
 supplied1 in connexion with a due share
 of light1 and an excess of heat had    
been avoided1 we have natural evidence  
to prove unquestionably that            
fructification would have followed4 ,an 
abundance of food1 a high temperature1  
and a deficiency of light1 are just the 
conditions which are opposed to the     
developement of the floral organs in    
plants1 and are inductive of mere barren
 extension3 not that plants grow thus1  
because they delight in such a state of 
things1 but because they are thereby    
unnaturally excited and compelled to do 
so1 although that growth cannot under   
such circumstances1 become properly     

matured2 and hence arises the           
impossibility of their producing        
blossoms4  ,the advantage of raising    
plants of ,cucumbers from seeds1        
consists in the facility thus afforded  
of altogether avoiding transplantation3 
the roots of ,cucumbers are of a very   
tender nature1 and however carefully    
they may be transplanted1 they are      
liable to sustain injury in the removal3
 by having recourse to depositing the   
seeds at once in the soil where they are
 intended to grow1 this is entirely     
obviated1 and there can be no possible  
reason why the conditions necessary to  
germination should not be as fully      
supplied in a hillock of soil1 as when a
 portion of the soil is placed within a 
garden pot2 this vessel can certainly   
have no influence in producing more     
perfect or healthy germination1 whilst  
the mutilation of even the most careful 
act of transplantation1 may tend to     
check the future developement of the    
plant4  ,it may be1 however1 that       

circumstances prevent the sowing of the 
seeds at once in their ultimate         
position1 and in such cases1 they may be
 sown singly in pots partly filled with 
decayed vegetable mould1 plunged in a   
milk-warm bottom heat4 ,the temperature 
both of the soil and atmosphere during  
this period1 should not be high1 but    
such as to permit the plants to push    
gradually forth from their dormitory1   
and assume by a natural process1 the    
functions of active vitality4 ,in order 
to maintain them in vigour of           
constitution1 they should be exposed as 
much as possible to light2 and that1 by 
being placed near the glass1 so as to   
receive the rays as little broken and   
refracted as possible4 ,water should not
 be applied at all1 until vegetation has
 manifested itself1 and afterwards1 but 
sparingly1 whilst the plants are young1 
especially in prolonged periods of dull 
sunless weather4 ,plants which are thus 
raised1 should be planted out as soon as
 possible1 when their fibres are least  

numerous1 as a means of avoiding in     
part1 the injuries to which they are    
exposed in transplantation4  ,when the  
plan of depositing the seeds in the     
hillock of soil is adopted1 it is       
necessary to arrange the soil so that   
any subsequent additions made to it1 may
 not have the effect of covering too    
deeply the roots of the plants1 neither 
of burying the neck of the stem beneath 
the surface2 it should be arranged so   
that this latter may remain elevated    
above the surrounding soil on the top of
 a slight mound1 after the whole of the 
soil is adjusted for the roots4 ,i have 
already mentioned that the depth of soil
 ought not to be at all considerable1   
but rather shallow than otherwise1 so as
 to expose the roots as far as possible 
to the influence of the sun4  ,it will  
have been seen that the plan of raising 
young plants from seeds1 has both its   
advantages and its disadvantages2 and in
 order to avoid the latter1 and secure  
some of the former1 the seeds should be 

sown early in the autumn1 whilst there  
is a sufficiency of heat and light1 to  
mature the growth they make previous to 
the dull cheerless days which mark the  
near approach1 and at length the arrival
 of winter4 ,they will thus be endued   
with the stamina necessary to sustain   
them1 through that trying period1 and   
though not without difficulty1 yet with 
comparative certainty1 to reward the    
well-directed zeal of the cultivator4   
,it is impossible to give any very      
minute directions as to the time of     
performing these operations of          
propagation1 for like all other         
gardening operations1 it is not at all  
requisite that they should be done on   
any particular day1 nor ought they to be
 done except when natural conditions are
 favourable to success3 from ten to     
twelve weeks generally elapse between   
the time of sowing the seeds and the    
production of fruit1 according as the   
season may be favourable or otherwise4  
,the numerous hybrid varieties which are

 in cultivation1 render it a matter of  
some importance to make choice of those 
most suitable to the purpose2 these are 
however so continually changing1 that it
 is useless to attempt a record of them4
 ,the ,sion house ,cucumber is perhaps  
the best of all suited for cultivation  
in the winter season4 ,the principal    
features which are required in          
,cucumbers for winter forcing1 are1     
precocity2 compactness of growth1 rather
 than luxuriance2 prolificacy1 rather   
than extreme length of fruit2 and       
hardiness of constitution3 these1 are to
 the gardener far more important points1
 than those which entitle them to rank  
as prize varieties4     ,,chap4 ,,iv4   
,,on ,,the ,,treatment ,,of ,,the       
,,mature ,,plants4   ,from the time that
 the plants become established1 which is
 the period of their existence now about
 to be considered1 they require to have 
the elements of vegetable growth duly   
supplied to them1 in order to secure    
their successful developement4 ,it is   

not enough to plant them in proper soil1
 and duly to water them1 unless         
attention is also paid to the           
temperature1 as well as the constituents
 of the atmosphere to which they are    
submitted2 neither will attention to    
these latter points be sufficient to    
ensure success1 if at the same time1 the
 former are neglected4 ,a soil of       
suitable chemical1 as well as mechanical
 composition1 a pure and wholesome      
atmosphere1 water promptly and properly 
applied1 and heat duly regulated1 are   
conditions which equally require minute 
care and attention in their adaptation2 
and these being applied upon the        
comprehensive1 and perfectly harmonious 
principles of nature1 will leave but    
little to be done in the shape of       
expedients1 which are too frequently    
resorted to1 as the means of            
counterbalancing either defective or    
unsuitable management4 ,the application 
of these agents to the cultivation of   
the plant under consideration1 in the   

winter season1 will form the subjects of
 succeeding chapters4 ,i will here      
briefly direct attention to the         
importance of light in the growth of    
plants1 and then devote some space to   
the consideration of the subject of     
pruning and training4  ,light is most   
essential to the perfect and healthy    
developement of vegetable organization1 
the performance of the functions        
essential to the health of plants being 
dependent on its agency4 ,it cannot     
indeed be assumed that plants will not  
continue to grow1 unless they are       
supplied with an intense degree of      
light2 but it is certain that the       
successful nature of their growth1 their
 maturation1 and their fructification1  
are dependent in no ordinary degree upon
 the nature and force of its action2 for
 without it1 the vital energies of      
animated beings are unable to maintain  
and perform the processes of            
elaboration1 and assimilation1 upon     
which their nutrition depends4 ,the mere

 extension of vegetable tissue1 may     
indeed go on1 though less               
satisfactorily1 under the almost total  
privation of light1 but with the        
exception of cryptogamic vegetation1 the
 organs of fructification are not under 
those circumstances1 produced at all3   
the stem may be formed1 but does not    
become solid3 the leaves may expand1 but
 their condition is imperfect2 and it is
 only by means of the full and complete 
action of these organs in the nutrition 
of plants1 that the developement of the 
floral parts is brought about3 the roots
 may take up fluids1 and these may be   
conveyed in the natural upward channels1
 and then dispersed among the stems and 
the leaves2 but it is the action of     
solar light1 aided indeed by the natural
 condition of the elements supplying    
heat and moisture1 which alone1 by a    
process of elaboration1 can convert this
 fluid1 once crude and undigested1 into 
the compound organic substances1 such as
 lignin1 gum1 starch1 gluten1 c4 which  

in their turn1 are destined to minister 
to the support of the organs of         
reproduction4 ,growth1 that is mere     
extension1 may go on in proportion as   
heat and moisture are supplied to       
plants1 but light is the agent to whose 
especial influence we owe the production
 of their active properties and         
secretions1 and the perfection of their 
fruit4  ,if then light is so            
indispensable to the vegetable frame1   
how important it is that the structures 
which we devote to the cultivation of   
such plants as the ,cucumber1 which are 
naturally habituated to an eastern      
clime1 should be so designed1 as to     
offer the least possible obstruction to 
its entrance3 how important1 too1 that  
the glass we employ1 which in its purest
 state1 offers considerable obstruction1
 by refracting the rays of light1 should
 be as transparent and untarnished as   
possible1 so as to admit them as        
perfectly as can be practicable2 instead
 of which1 it is too often disfigured by

 an accumulation and deposit of filth1  
which1 to say the least1 must materially
 diminish their force3 how important1   
moreover1 that whatever coverings it may
 be necessary to employ during the night
 to prevent the outward radiation of    
heat1 should be speedily removed in the 
morning1 and kept off as long as they   
safely may be1 in order to permit the   
inward radiation of light4 ,when these  
matters are all duly attended to1 our   
climate1 at least during the winter1    
still offers obstruction enough to our  
success1 in its mists1 and fogs1 its    
long dark nights1 and dismal cloudy     
days1 and therefore wisdom would teach  
us1 to avail ourselves of all which we  
can grasp1 by a course of untiring      
assiduity1 and attention to such        
apparently trifling matters as these4   
,the pruning and training of the plants1
 are operations1 to which it will be    
necessary to direct attention2 and in   
the performance of which1 the           
circumstances which may have any        

influence upon them1 as well as the     
object in view1 must be taken into      
consideration4 ,the plants being        
intended to occupy a surface of         
trellis-work in a line nearly parallel  
with the glass1 it will be requisite to 
train their primary shoots to a         
sufficient length to reach from the soil
 to the trellis1 before they are what is
 technically called stopped2 this       
operation1 by removing the central bud1 
or axis of developement1 induces the    
buds which are latently formed at the   
nodes of the branches1 to push forth and
 become the axes of further extension3  
two or three of the strongest of these  
lateral shoots situated towards the top 
of the stem1 should be retained1 and    
trained on the trellis in a direction   
towards the top of the house2 these     
shoots should be placed about #ah inches
 from each other1 and when they have    
reached about one-third of the length of
 the trellis1 they also should be       
stopped1 and thus several more lateral  

shoots will be produced4 ,the uppermost 
strong shoot should in each case1 be    
still trained in the same upward        
direction1 and the others must be       
disposed in the most convenient form in 
the space between the main branches3    
these1 that is the young lateral shoots1
 if they do not shew a fruit blossom at 
the second joint or leaf from the main  
branch1 must be stopped1 and the young  
shoot thus induced to push forth1 will  
in all probability have fruit at the    
first leaf2 if not1 it must be stopped  
at every leaf as it extends1 until fruit
 is observed4 ,the upper portion of the 
branch after having extended about      
one-third further up the roof1 should be
 submitted to the same process1 and this
 must be again repeated until the whole 
of the trellis is covered4  ,no         
reference has yet been made to the      
treatment of those lateral branches     
where the young fruit are perceived3    
these should be permitted to grow until 
the blossoms have expanded2 and then1   

after this1 they should be stopped at   
the leaf next beyond the fruit blossoms4
 ,by permitting them to grow until the  
flowers have expanded1 the attraction of
 the growing branch will continue to    
draw up a regular supply of nutriment1  
part of which will be devoted in its    
course1 to assist the developement of   
the blossoms2 and besides the advantage 
of the growing point acting thus as a   
sucker to draw onwards the vital juices 
towards the young fruit1 it will act    
also as an outlet1 to drain off what    
would otherwise be superabundant and    
dangerous to these tender organs of     
reproduction4 ,after the flowers have   
expanded1 this danger does not exist to 
so great an extent1 the infant fruit    
have new and important functions to     
perform1 which are peculiarly their own2
 and these call for a greater supply    
from the nutritive organs of the plant3 
the stopping of the branch therefore1 is
 the means of throwing in this increased
 supply of food2 but those who can most 

fully appreciate the delicacy of the    
functions performed by the plant at this
 stage of its developement1 will most   
fully value the suggestion not to stop  
back the growing branch all at once1 but
 to do it by successional1 though not   
distant operations4 ,the leaf which is  
directed to be left above1 or beyond    
each fruit1 will serve1 both as a       
reservoir1 to receive all the           
superabundant food1 which may either be 
induced or impelled upwards2 and also1  
as a labaratory where this food will    
become purified and changed by its      
exposure to atmospheric influence1      
amongst the lax tissue2 and whence1 an  
appointed portion will be returned1 and 
devoted by a process of assimilation1 to
 aid in the extension of the plants4    
,this system of pruning1 with reference 
both to the barren and the fruitful     
branches1 must be continued1 whilst     
these continue in a vigorous and healthy
 condition2 but when any symptoms of    
decay or of expended powers1 are        

perceived1 they should be pruned quite  
away1 and young ones encouraged in their
 stead4 ,all the pruning which has been 
spoken of1 except the occasional removal
 of a main shoot1 should be done at a   
sufficiently early period of growth1 to 
admit of being effected by means of the 
thumb-nail2 for like all other plants1  
,cucumbers are much best treated1 when  
whatever pruning they may require1 is   
done at that stage of growth1 when the  
least amount of trouble and labour is   
required to perform it4 ,pruning is not 
under any circumstances a natural       
process1 and when we have recourse to it
 in artificial cultivation1 it is only  
an expedient1 which is rendered         
necessary by the limited space1 within  
which it becomes necessary to confine   
the extension of the plants2 and since  
this is the case1 it is far better to   
remove a portion of any plant1 at an    
early period of its growth1 and thus to 
economize its vital energies1 rather    
than to suffer them to be expended1 and 

the supply to become exhausted through a
 superfluous developement1 and then to  
deprive it of those very organs1 by the 
action of which1 the expenditure would  
be again recompensed to the vital       
energies4     ,,chap4 ,v4  ,,on ,,the   
,,nature1 ,,and ,,composition ,,of ,,the
 ,,soil4   ,plants absorb fluids through
 the extremities or spongioles of the   
roots1 and it is thus that those        
portions of the substances which serve  
them as their food1 and are derived from
 the soil1 are carried into their       
system1 in a state of solution3 these   
spongioles are not strictly to be       
regarded as analogous to the mouths of  
animals1 for they are not provided with 
openings1 and cannot imbibe even the    
most impalpable powders2 their action   
seems to be more analogous to that of   
the lacteals in animals1 for these1 as  
well as spongioles1 serve to convey     
fluids only4 ,these considerations      
render it necessary1 that in the        
composition of soil for the growth of   

plants1 the following important points  
should be held in consideration2--it    
should contain a sufficient ratio of    
organizable matter1 that is of          
substances which can be rendered        
available as food to the plants2 it     
should readily absorb fluids1 since it  
is only when in a state of solution1    
that food can enter into the structure  
of the plants2 it should be sufficiently
 retentive to avoid the risk of injury  
by reason of the evaporation1 which     
takes place to a very great extent1 when
 too great an abundance of silica is    
present1 or when more than a due degree 
of porosity exists in its mechanical    
texture2 and it should be sufficiently  
permeable1 to prevent any thing like    
excess of moisture1 by stagnation4      
,soils composed either principally1 or  
almost entirely of heath soil1 or of    
vegetable mould1 although very highly   
recommended for the growth of the       
,cucumber in winter1 are nevertheless   
objectionable when applied alone1 as    

will be evident if the foregoing        
principles are taken into view3 it      
cannot however be assumed that the      
plants will not grow in these soils1 for
 they grow vigorously for a period2     
neither can it be asserted that such    
soils do not contain the qualities which
 are necessary to administer to the     
nutrition of plants1 for it is scarcely 
possible to conceive any substances     
which are more nutritious1 or whose     
application in this respect is more     
effectual2 but they are objectionable1  
in consequence of their becoming soon   
expended1 and failing to maintain for   
any length of time1 an equable degree of
 moisture4 ,the cause which tends to    
produce this effect1 is the porosity1 or
 the want of mechanical combination in  
the texture of the soil2 which being    
highly favourable to evaporation1 is    
liable to render it speedily1 and very  
materially dry1 when exposed to the     
influence of powerful solar heat3 the   
frequent application of water1 does not 

entirely obviate the objection1 for even
 when so applied1 it soon becomes again 
evaporated1 and thus tends to           
deteriorate the soil1 and decrease its  
fertility2 this it does1 by taking up   
much of the soluble matter contained in 
it1 and conveying it by evaporation into
 the atmosphere1 instead of its being   
taken up by the roots whilst in a fluid 
state1 and applied to the plant as a    
means of nutrition3 when it is thus     
conveyed to the atmosphere1 the leaves  
though they are enabled to take up a    
portion of their food from thence1 are  
still incapacitated to do so fully1 and 
hence1 much of the fertilizing          
properties of the soil1 is carried off  
by the first current of air which passes
 through the structure2 and the plants  
decline by reason of starvation1 though 
they had been seated in the midst of    
plenty4  ,the soil which ,i should      
recommend for the growth of the         
,cucumber1 would be composed of         
ingredients1 capable of supplying a     

sufficient portion of vegetable food2 of
 retaining a due portion of moisture1   
when placed under powerful evaporation2 
and of securing the free passage of     
water through its mass3 the former of   
these conditions would be secured1 by   
the use of mould from the decaying      
leaves of trees1 in the proportion of   
about three-eighths2 the latter would be
 ensured1 by employing about one-fourth 
part of turfy heath mould1 and          
one-eighth part of clean coarse sand2   
and the remaining quality1 would result 
by combining these ingredients with     
one-fourth part of good turfy loam4 ,the
 preparation of this soil should take   
place in the dry weather of the summer  
months1 just previous to its being used1
 so that it can be frequently turned and
 mixed1 without incurring the danger of 
reducing it to an adhesive consistency1 
which would at once render it ungenial  
for the roots of plants3 the turfy      
portions both of the loam and heath soil
 should be piled up reversely1 until the

 herbage and roots of the grass1 become 
partially decayed2 when required for    
use1 it should be chopped into pieces of
 from two to four inches square1 by the 
spade1 and then adding the other        
ingredients in a rough state1 the whole 
should be well mixed1 without sifting1  
or any other mechanical operation which 
would have the effect of destroying its 
open texture4 ,it should always be      
prevented from becoming saturated with  
water2 and moreover1 should never be    
applied to the roots of plants which are
 growing in a warm medium1 without      
having been previously submitted to a   
high temperature1 for a sufficient      
length of time1 to have absorbed at     
least an equal degree of heat1 with that
 in which the plants might be already   
growing4  ,the admixture of charcoal    
with the soil1 is said to be a means of 
adding to its nutritive qualities4      
,charcoal1 which is nearly pure carbon1 
may be supposed continually to give off 
a portion of this gaseous substance     

during its decomposition1 and this      
uniting with a portion of the oxygen    
contained in the air1 would furnish a   
supply of carbonic acid gas1 to the     
atmosphere immediately about the plants4
 ,it should however be borne in mind1   
that charcoal1 is a substance whose     
decomposition except under the influence
 of heat1 proceeds very slowly indeed1  
and therefore its chemical influence    
must not be overrated3 doubtless        
however1 the small portion which does   
combine with the oxygen of the air1 is  
directly beneficial to the plants2 for  
it is a function of the vegetable       
kingdom by the action of their leaves1  
when under the influence of light1 to   
decompose carbonic acid1 the oxygen of  
which is liberated1 and the carbon fixed
 in the living tissue4 ,it is therefore 
probable that a supply of carbonic acid1
 artificially maintained about the      
leaves and stems of plants1 may be      
beneficial to them1 by furnishing them  
directly with a portion of carbon1 which

 they cannot absorb in a seperate state4
 ,when the charcoal is made from twigs1 
and the small branches of trees1 its    
decomposition is often more rapid1 than 
when it is obtained by the usual course 
of manufactering it3 if the latter kind 
of charcoal is employed1 it should be   
broken into pieces of a small size2 and 
in ordinary cases1 it should not be used
 in larger proportion than with about   
twice its bulk of soil1 with which it   
should be intimately blended4  ,besides 
its chemical action1 which is probably  
beneficial1 charcoal has a decidedly    
advantageous mechanical action in the   
composition of soils1 and this is of a  
twofold nature3--first1 in common with  
any similar materials1 it renders the   
soil open1 and thus effectually favours 
the free passage of water through its   
mass3 secondly1 it serves as a perpetual
 reservoir of moisture in the soil1 for 
in consequence of its being extremely   
porous1 it imbibes a great quantity of  
water1 by its force of attraction1 and  

this it parts with slowly to the soil2  
in this way1 there is no doubt that its 
action is most salutary4 ,probably a few
 pieces of charcoal placed              
perpendicularly in the soil1 and kept   
continually wet1 by the action of some  
little capillary contrivance1 would     
serve as the best possible means of     
conducting moisture1 and distributing it
 to the roots of plants4  ,it will be   
observed that the application of dung1  
in any way whatever1 has not been       
recommended2 neither do ,i consider it  
to be at all requisite1 or desirable1 in
 the culture of winter ,cucumbers3      
luxuriance is not a consummation which  
it is at all desirable to attain to1 a  
moderate1 well matured growth1 being far
 preferable2 and as some care is        
supposed to be used to provide suitable 
soil1 it should be of such a nature as  
to possess the properties1 which are    
requisite to effect the desired end4    
,dung containing as it does fertilizing 
properties1 may do well to renew the    

fertility of exhausted soils1 which may 
have been under a long course of        
cultivation2 but it is questionable1    
whether it ought to be admissable to any
 extent in pot culture1 or in the growth
 of forced plants1 in preference to a   
supply of wholesome unexhausted natural 
soil4  ,a very great objection to the   
use of dung when applied in a solid     
state in the composition of soils1      
consists1 in its being presented to the 
roots of plants1 not only in the        
advanced periods of their existence1 but
 equally so1 during the early stages of 
their growth2 here must be an error1 for
 infants1 whether they belong to the    
animal or vegetable kingdom1 are        
certainly not capacitated to appropriate
 the same kind of food1 in the same     
proportion1 as adults4 ,if only a small 
portion of soil is at first employed1   
and portions more and more enriched1 are
 from time to time added1 as the roots  
may extend1 we are still liable to      
stumble on an objection1 almost as      

important1 though of a somewhat         
different nature2 for we can in that    
case scarcely fail to injure the        
spongioles of the roots in a greater or 
less degree1 and the injury thus        
sustained1 will consequently act as a   
check in the progress of their          
developement4 ,these considerations seem
 at once to mark the propriety of       
applying liquid manures in highly       
artificial cultivation2 they can be     
supplied in this state1 when the plants 
are in such a mature and advanced state 
of growth1 as from time to time to      
require their aid2 and their fertilizing
 properties being held in solution by   
the fluid medium in which they are      
conveyed1 they are just in the condition
 to be taken up at once by the rootlets4
 ,it must still however be recollected1 
that whilst even impalpable powders     
cannot as such be made to minister to   
the nutrition of plants1 so neither can 
gross liquids effect this purpose3 it is
 clear limpid fluids1 only1 which can be

 received by the delicate spongioles1   
and therefore the so-called manure      
water1 when applied of the consistency  
of mud1 is not only in an unfit state to
 effect its purpose1 except by the      
addition of a more bountiful supply of  
pure liquid1 but it is also liable to   
act injuriously by reason of the        
concentration of the strength or        
powerful qualities of the manure1 and by
 counteracting the open texture of the  
soil4 ,manure water1 therefore1 from    
whatever source it may be derived1      
though not necessarily a colourless1    
should without question1 be a limpid    
fluid2 if otherwise applied1 it will at 
once destroy one of the best qualities a
 soil can possess1 viz4 porosity4       
,,chap4 ,,vi4  ,,on ,,the ,,application 
,,of ,,moisture4   ,from what has been  
stated in the preceeding chapter1 it    
will be sufficiently evident1 that a    
supply of water is required as a        
component of the soil1 in which all     
plants are grown1 in order to enable    

them to draw from it1 other components1 
which form their food2 and that1 as it  
is necessary for them continually to    
take up a portion of this food1 so is it
 necessary1 that moisture should be     
continually present1 in order to render 
it available by them4  ,among other     
conditions to which the operation of    
applying water to the soil should be    
subjected1 there are some which are     
specially important3 it should never be 
either applied in excess1 or unduly     
withheld2 nor should it ever be applied 
when of a temperature below that of the 
atmosphere in which the plants to whose 
roots it is applied1 are growing at the 
time of its application4  ,there is a   
liability of applying water in excess1  
when the particular stage of growth1 the
 peculiar state of the weather1 or the  
season of the year1 are not duly        
regarded3 thus1 an adult plant will     
consume more water than an infant plant2
 and any plant1 will decompose a larger 
quantity of water1 in sunny weather1    

when evaporation is going on briskly1   
than in cloudy weather1 when it is      
scarcely perceptible2 again1 in the     
summer season1 a much larger quantity   
will be appropriated1 than in the       
winter4 ,water has been applied in      
excess1 whenever the soil becomes       
soddened or saturated therewith2 but    
great as this evil is1 it is equalled in
 its injurious effects1 by falling into 
the opposite extreme1 and withholding a 
quantity sufficient to render the       
constituents of the soil1 available as  
food to the roots of plants placed in   
it4  ,the necessity of applying water1  
of a temperature equal to that of the   
soil1 is rendered evident by a reference
 to the natural conditions by which the 
soil is watered4 ,in a small and nearly 
globular form1 the water gathered up by 
the action of the sun1 and forming the  
clouds above us1 is precipitated through
 the atmosphere1 and there its          
temperature becomes equalized or        
assimilated with that of the medium     

through which it has been passing2 and  
although in our own latitude1 we perhaps
 fail to discover any material degree of
 warmth in the drops of rain as they    
fall1 yet in eastern climes1 we cannot  
but imagine1 that after having been     
submitted in the thin strata of the     
clouds to the action of the sun1 they   
must previously to entering the soil1   
have imbibed some portion of heat4      
,moreover1 the importance of maintaining
 a gentle bottom heat1 at the roots of  
forced plants1 renders it necessary to  
avoid any application1 which may tend to
 lesson its effect1 and submit the roots
 to any chilling influence4 ,the        
temperature of the soil is naturally    
above that of the atmosphere1 and as the
 application of moisture by exciting    
evaporation1 has an abstract tendency to
 lower the temperature1 it should       
therefore1 when applied1 be in a slight 
degree warmed1 so as thus to increase   
rather than diminish the heat contained 
in the soil4  ,as some moisture in the  

soil is necessary to render the food    
contained therein1 soluble1 and         
available to the spongioles of the      
roots1 so moisture in the atmosphere is 
essentially necessary to assist in      
applying the gaseous elements of that   
elastic compound fluid1 to the nutrition
 of plants by the action of the leaves3 
without moisture in the atmosphere1 the 
leaves and outer covering of plants     
would become dessicated1 and the        
stomatas shrivelled up and closed1 so   
that neither the exhaling nor the       
imbibing functions of the plants could  
then be carried on4  ,the moisture of   
the atmosphere1 then must not be        
neglected2 not only because the healthy 
action of the vital organs of the plants
 depends on a proper hygrometrical state
 of the atmosphere1 but1 inasmuch as it 
is the readiest means both of avoiding1 
and when unhappily1 they are present1 of
 destroying1 many of the most           
destructive and troublesome insect      
enemies1 to whose depredations1 plants  

are subject4  ,when a moist atmosphere  
is duly and regularly maintained1 there 
is but little fear need be entertained  
of the establishment of a colony of     
insects--such as the thrip1 and the red 
spider1 which are perhaps the greatest  
pests which have to be overcome in the  
forcing house2 nor is there a more      
effectual method of destroying them1    
than by applying a high temperature in  
conjunction with an intense degree of   
moisture4 ,to the want of a balance of  
moisture in the composition of the      
atmosphere1 and in the soil1 too1 rather
 than as is commonly supposed1 to an    
excess of it in the former1 is the      
appearance called mildew to be          
attributed2 this it occasions by        
checking the regular action of the      
perspiratory organs1 and thereby        
inducing an eruption of the cells of the
 tissue3 the extravasated sap lodging on
 the cuticle1 affords a nidus for the   
germination of the sporules of that     
particular fungus1 which when grown1 is 

the mildew3 the remedy consists in      
avoiding an irregular composition of the
 atmosphere1 as regards heat and        
moisture2 and also an excess or         
deficiency of moisture in the soil1 so  
that each may be in a condition to exert
 its proper influence on the            
constitution and developement of the    
plants4 ,canker1 another disease1 to    
which ,cucumbers are sometimes subject1 
appears to be produced by too low a     
degree of temperature1 accompanied by an
 excess of moisture1 both in the soil   
and the atmosphere1 and it generally    
attacks those particular parts1 where   
any check or obstruction is offered to  
the flow of the sap1 such as that       
occasioned by a wound1 or even the      
ramifications of the stem3 this suggests
 that its remedy1 would consist in a due
 regulation and balance of the          
constituents of the atmosphere1 and the 
soil4  ,moisture is generally applied to
 the soil by being poured directly on   
it1 and to the atmosphere1 by means of  

the syringe1 and the use of evaporation 
troughs4 ,when applied to the soil only 
from the upper surface1 there is a      
liability of its failing thoroughly to  
moisten it1 and by reason of this1      
together with the constant action of the
 heat from below1 by whatever means heat
 may be applied1 the soil is frequently 
found to be dry beneath1 when the       
appearance of the surface might lead to 
the supposition that it was sufficiently
 moistened4  ,by a reference to the     
sketch and description already given1 it
 will be seen1 that a provision is there
 made1 whereby water can be poured in   
quantity beneath the soil1 immediately  
on the top of the tank1 whence in the   
form of vapour it will rise among the   
soil1 and thus render it thoroughly     
moist2 at the same time1 it can be      
applied to the surface1 whenever it may 
become necessary to do so4 ,the         
moistening of the atmosphere will also  
be fully secured by the mode of         
ventilation which is there proposed1 for

 the air1 at the same time that it is   
warmed1 will become charged with        
moisture in a ratio equal to its        
temperature1 before it enters the house4
 ,if it becomes requisite to admit      
moisture without changing the volume of 
air1 it can readily be effected by      
opening the tubes or shafts inside the  
house1 without opening the exterior     
ventilators2 and when dry heat may be   
required1 it can be secured by closing  
entirely the communication with this    
reservoir of moisture1 and the hot-water
 pipes will then radiate any quantity of
 dry heat that may be required4  ,by    
means of a due application of these     
provisions1 an equable degree of        
moisture beneath and among the soil1 as 
well as in the composition of the       
atmosphere1 can be secured with perfect 
ease1 and a trifling amount of labour4  
,,chap4 ,,vii4  ,,on ,,the ,,regulation 
,,of ,,the ,,temperature4   ,if we      
figure to our minds1 a plant which in   
its native habitat enjoys a climate far 

more genial1 and a temperature far more 
elevated1 than our own country affords1 
it must be obvious that some regulation1
 and increase of temperature1 either    
positively1 by the artificial           
application of heat1 or negatively1 by  
affording shelter and protection1 will  
be required in order to ensure any      
degree of success in its cultivation4   
,the ,cucumber is a reputed native of   
the ,east1 and we have therefore in this
 supposed fact1 an indication of the    
nature of the climate1 which it should  
be our object to provide for it2 but    
still it must be borne in mind1 that in 
conducting any system of artificial     
cultivation1 it is not at all times     
desirable1 or even safe1 to supply a    
resemblance to any part of the natural  
circumstances affecting the growth of a 
particular plant1 unless we have the    
means of supplying the greater part1 or 
all the conditions which exist in a     
state of nature3 this ,i shall again    
have occasion to refer to4  ,by another 

step we arrive at the conclusion that   
the standard of temperature1 to which   
the ,cucumber is submitted in its       
cultivation in this country1 is a point1
 varying with the individual opinion of 
cultivators2 as some may take a part of 
the natural conditions of growth as     
their rule2 others1 all these           
circumstances2 and others1 again1       
various combinations of them4           
,referring back again to the provisions 
of nature1 we can scarcely hesitate to  
conclude1 that in clear sunny weather1  
the temperature to which the ,cucumber  
is submitted1 cannot within reasonable  
limits1 be permitted to rise too high2  
whilst at other times1 when the weather 
is dull1 or cloudy1 and always at night1
 a much lower degree of heat ought to be
 applied4 ,in sunny weather1 the natural
 agents which cause excitement and      
activity of the vital functions1 are in 
full action2 and consequently at such   
periods we may rationally indulge in the
 application of those exciting agents   

which are under our controul--always    
however bearing in mind1 that we must   
not unduly apply one agent1 when we     
either cannot1 or neglect to apply the  
others also4 ,on the other hand1 in dull
 weather1 and at night1 the source of   
light being in the one case absent1 in  
the other obscured1 a comparative state 
of lethargy or repose is prevalent1 and 
the natural functions of vitality are   
but feeble in their action1 if not in   
some cases1 absolutely in a quiescent   
state2 with such a state of things      
existing1 it is barely rational to apply
 stimulants1 and to induce unnatural    
excitement4 ,the application of exciting
 and stimulating agents at such periods1
 may be compared in its effects to the  
excitement of a frightful dream acting  
on the human frame2 the vital           
functions--not the vitality             
itself--cease during sleep1 and both the
 animal and the vegetable should be at  
rest2 excitement acts on both by        
deranging the system1 at least for a    

time1 and since a succession of these   
derangements are known to produce       
injurious results1 we may be certain1   
that each seperate instance must have an
 evil tendency4  ,in applying this      
practically1 to the case before us1 it  
may be recommended1 that the temperature
 in which ,cucumbers are grown during   
winter1 should not fall much below #fj  
,fahrenheit1 at night2 and in the day   
time it should not rise above #gj in    
dull weather1 by the aid of heat        
artificially applied2 in clear weather1 
by the influence of that glorious source
 of light and heat1 the sun1 it may be  
safely allowed to rise to #hj1 or a     
little higher1 before air is admitted4  
,a somewhat higher range may be         
permitted1 as the days lengthen1 and the
 influence of the sun becomes more      
powerful2 thus at night1 it should not  
rise over #fe1 by day #ge to #hj1 and by
 sun heat to #ij4 ,thus it will be seen1
 that ,i have recommended the regulation
 of the temperature of the internal     

atmosphere1 by that which is external2  
and it is my firm conviction that       
inattention to this simple rule1 is the 
source of much of the failure1 which is 
experienced by some of those who attempt
 the growth of plants1 at any other than
 that1 which may be regarded as their   
natural season of growth4 ,it appears to
 me1 most unreasonable1 to aim at       
attaining any particular point of the   
thermometer1 merely because any         
particular season of the year may be    
present1 or any particular stage of     
growth attained4 ,even if in the sunny  
climes1 from whence the ,cucumber has   
been transmitted to us1 there exists    
such an equality of temperature and     
atmospheric serenity1 as some           
cultivators attempt in the growth of    
these plants2 it surely cannot be       
consistent in us to equalize and elevate
 the temperature of our artificial      
atmospheres1 when we cannot supply them 
at the same time with the same intensity
 of light1 or provide for them the same 

serene and unclouded sky4 ,it should    
rather be our object to adapt the plant 
to the climate of our country1 since we 
cannot change the climate to supply the 
natural circumstances1 with which the   
plant is favoured2 and acting on this   
principle1 we should never aim at       
supplying the agents which would induce 
a premature and therefore debilitated   
developement1 when the whistling wind1  
and the drifting snow1 tell us that     
,nature1 would have1 at least the       
members of her vegetable kingdom1 be at 
rest4  ,since however1 it is apparent   
that during the depth of the winter     
season1 at least when wintry weather is 
present1 the progress of plants in an   
artificially heated atmosphere1 ought   
not to be rapid1 or unduly forced2 it by
 no means follows that no progression at
 all should be made3 the elements of    
growth maybe supplied2 but the          
application of them should be guided by 
moderation1 being lessened at those     
particular periods when the weather is  

least propitious1 and increased during  
those periods when it is most           
favourable4 ,in the works of ,nature we 
may ever learn a lesson of consistency1 
for they are perfect3 they teach us that
 food is requisite to maintain the life 
of all those objects which are endowed  
with it2 that that food must undergo a  
process both of digestion and           
assimilation1 ere its purpose is        
fulfilled2 and that each of these       
processes depend on the action of       
natural agents4 ,in the vegetable       
kingdom1 heat and fight as derived from 
a united source1 are the agents         
appointed to bring about these results1 
and in order to ensure their proper     
action1 they must both be present in a  
powerful degree3 in artificial schemes  
of culture1 we can command a supply of  
the one1 but the other is not within our
 power2 our consistency therefore       
depends on our applying so much of the  
one under our controul1 as will secure  
the united action of it1 with the       

existing degree of the                  
other--consequently1 when light is      
absent1 or deficient1 heat should also  
be diminished2 and when light is present
 and abundant1 heat may safely be       
increased4     ,,chap4 ,,viii4  ,,on    
,,the ,,admission ,,of ,,air4   ,the    
question of the admission of air1 is one
 of some importance4 ,it is an opinion1 
which was ,i believe first publicly     
brought forward by the late ,mr4        
,knight1 that an influx of a large      
volume of the external atmosphere1 to   
the interior of forcing houses1 is by no
 means requisite1 and is often the      
source of very serious evils4 ,were it  
for no other reason1 than that of       
avoiding the chilling influence of cold 
air on the tender tissue of plants      
growing in a high temperature1 ,i should
 feel inclined to support such a view2  
but when there are facts sufficiently   
abundant1 to prove1 that plants do not  
themselves vitiate the air of such      
structures to an extent sufficient to   

render it unfit for their continued     
growth1 or at least1 that a sufficient  
interchange is constantly going on1     
without opening the sashes of a forcing 
house1 the evidence appears to be       
overwhelming2 and the necessity of      
continuing a practice so fraught with   
danger1 and so frequently attended with 
disappointment1 appears to be done away4
  ,the injury done to the tender foliage
 of plants in forcing houses1 by contact
 with cold air1 results from the        
increased capacity of air for moisture1 
as it become heated4 ,when cold air is  
admitted to these structures1 it cannot 
contain so great a quantity of aqueous  
matter1 as it is capable of taking up   
when it becomes warmed3 this increase of
 temperature1 is soon in great measure1 
supplied to it1 but rarely is a         
sufficient quantity of moisture1 at the 
same time within its reach1 to enable it
 to supply its increased capacity for   
aqueous matter3 the consequence is1 that
 on coming in contact with the foilage  

of the plants1 which is of a succulent  
nature1 and contains a great proportion 
of water1 the warmed air continues to   
abstract a portion of moisture from the 
plants1 until its capacity is satisfied2
 and hence the plants are robbed of     
their life's blood4 ,besides this       
action1 which is the cause of serious   
evil1 the tissue itself is contracted   
and thereby injured1 by reason of the   
degree of cold1 which is at the first   
gush1 liable to come in contact with the
 warm foliage4 ,these remarks apply to  
cold air1 when admitted in a large bulk1
 by opening the sashes2 and when a      
draught is produced1 by opening them1   
both at the back and front1 and the top 
and bottom of the house4  ,deterioration
 of the air1 by the action of the       
functions of the plants1 could not take 
place1 except in hermetically sealed    
structures3 for by reason of the        
expansibility and elasticity of air1    
when it becomes at all heated1 it not   
only gains egress1 but also admission   

through the most minute crevices3 that  
this interchange is sufficient to       
counteract any deteriorating influence  
which the plants might have on the      
internal air1 with respect to their     
continued existence in it1 is abundantly
 proved by the growth of plants in      
,ward's cases1 from the interior of     
which the external air is excluded as   
fully as it possibly can be1 without    
their being actually sealed3 if         
therefore1 any injurious effects result 
to plants1 from their being cultivated  
in a close atmosphere1 we must seek for 
the cause1 in some other source1 than   
the plants themselves4 ,if any noxious  
qualities exist in the atmosphere of    
structures1 to which the external air   
has not free ingress1 they must result  
from some neglect or ignorance on our   
part1 in suffering extraneous and       
unwholesome matters to accumulate in    
such situations1 and there to decompose1
 and enter into combination with those  
gaseous bodies1 which form the volume of

 the internal atmosphere of our plant   
structures4 ,the existence of such      
extraneous matters1 may indeed be traced
 to various sources2 and they may be    
present1 even when much vigilance is    
employed to prevent their accumulation2 
and therefore1 as an inconceivably      
minute quantity1 inappreciable to the   
senses1 would frequently be sufficient  
to effect deterioration1 it is possible 
that these impurities may often         
originate in sources which are least of 
all suspected4 ,the decomposition of    
organic matter1 whether animal or       
vegetable1 may frequently be the source 
of injurious results in this respect2   
for although this is principally        
resolved into those elementary gases1   
which appear to form the basis of all   
created objects1 yet there are other    
matters liberated1 which may then enter 
into fresh combinations2 and either     
this1 or a disproportionate             
accumulation1 even of these elementary  
bodies1 may reasonably give rise to     

serious apprehension1 and demand the    
exercise of discretion1 in order to     
prevent them from becoming injurious4   
,besides this1 these decomposing bodies1
 afford just the very state of things1  
which appears to be requisite to call   
into existence1 and developement1 a     
numerous phalanx of cryptogamic         
vegetables3 not that such matters1 can  
for a moment be rationally considered to
 generate1 these cellulares2 but that   
they afford a suitable pabulum1 and     
medium of developement for those        
millions upon millions of sporules1     
which we may readily conceive to be     
dispersed in the atmosphere2 and with   
which it may be teeming1 though from    
their buoyancy and minuteness1 they may 
float to us invisibly therein4  ,the    
admission of the external air1 by the   
ordinary process of opening the sashes  
of forcing houses1 has been said to be  
unnecessary1 or at least by no means    
important1 in so far as the function of 
vegetable respiration is concerned1     

because the buoyancy of the air within  
all such structures1 would enable it to 
escape in sufficient quantity through   
their openings and crevices1 to         
counterbalance any thing like           
deterioration1 which might by any means 
result from the vital action of the     
plant4 ,the admission of external air1  
is also directly injurious to forced    
plants1 during the winter and spring    
months1 when a very material difference 
of temperature exists between it1 and   
the internal volume1 by contracting the 
vessels1 impeding the circulation of the
 juices1 and thereby checking the       
regular course of the growth of the     
plant4 ,if these reasons fail to stamp  
it as a practice which ought not largely
 to be indulged in1 it is further       
objectionable1 as being productive of a 
prodigal expenditure of fuel3 there can 
be little doubt but that generally      
speaking1 a far greater quantity of fuel
 than is requisite1 is expended in      
maintaining the temperature of forcing  

houses1 solely from this cause2 for the 
cold air when admitted1 continues to    
abstract a portion of heat from the     
warmed air1 until the temperature of    
both becomes equal1 and consequently an 
increased application of fuel is        
requisite1 in order to raise the newly  
admitted air to the same temperature as 
that which has been suffered to escape2 
and as the buoyancy of heated air is so 
great1 an immense volume must           
necessarily rush out through a very     
small aperture1 and thus there must also
 of necessity be an immense waste both  
of heat1 and of fuel4 ,a given portion  
of fuel1 in its combustion1 can give off
 but a certain proportionate ratio of   
heat1 and if this is allowed            
unnecessarily to escape1 the prodigality
 is self-evident4 ,it is but a weak     
argument1 which would seek to give to   
the admission of cold air1 the office of
 regulating the temperature of plant    
houses2 this ought to be effected by    
limiting the degree of heat applied1 and

 not by attending to the abstraction of 
that which had been previously          
administered with two lavish an hand4   
,besides the extravagance of such a     
course1 the constitutional vigour and   
energy of the plants is at the same time
 sacrificed by undue excitement4 ,the   
admission of cold air in large          
quantities1 therefore1 brings           
condemnation in its train1 since it is  
unnecessary1 and extravagant1 as well as
 directly injurious4  ,there are        
nevertheless some considerations which  
render the admission of air1 when       
regulated and applied with discretion1  
an operation of importance to the health
 of plants3 it is productive of         
beneficial effects in carrying off the  
noxious vapours1 which may although     
unseen1 and guarded against1 still float
 in the atmosphere2 and there can be    
little doubt that another beneficial    
influence which it exercises1 results   
from the motion which is produced by a  
body of air changing its position1 which

 probably promotes circulation1 and     
increases the excitability of the       
plants4  ,since therefore a change of   
the volume of the atmosphere in plant   
houses1 is productive of benefit1 and   
the admission of a large body of cold   
air1 is at the same time so decidedly   
objectionable1 it is important1 that in 
endeavouring to secure the benefits of  
the practice1 the injuries which are    
liable to result1 should if possible be 
avoided4 ,the regulation for the        
admistion of air1 which is described in 
the second chapter of this treatise1 may
 be regarded as being of some importance
 in this respect1 as well as in the     
provision which it includes1 of         
supplying the heated air1 with a due    
proportion of moisture4  ,physiologists 
tell us1 that plants derive a           
considerable proportion of their food1  
directly from the atmosphere1 by a      
process similar to the inhaling of      
animals2 and that the substances thus   
derived1 are carbonic acid1 ammonia1 and

 water1 which contain the elements of   
organic matter in considerable          
proportions4 ,the influence of the      
atmosphere is exerted beneficially1 by  
its constituents entering into          
combinations with other matters1 which  
are taken into the system by the roots1 
and spread out and exposed in the       
leaves3 this exposure has so far the    
effect of altering the character of the 
substance carried up from the roots1    
that it is no longer a body of crude    
juice1 but is undergoing a process of   
elaboration1 and is being assimilated   
with the superincumbent tissue of the   
plant4 ,there seems to be no reason why 
those particular gaseous bodies which   
plants appropriate to themselves from   
the atmosphere1 should not to a great   
extent be supplied to them artificially1
 at such periods as it may be necessary1
 or desirable1 to accelerate their      
growth1 and induce a more perfect and   
mature developement4 ,it has been       
already stated1 that the most important 

of these aeriform bodies1 are nitrogen1 
which plants derive from ammonia2 and   
carbon1 which they derive from carbonic 
acid gas1 on the liberation of the      
oxygen1 which is one of its             
constituents2 neither of these1 can     
however be appropriated1 when in a free 
state1 but only when in a state of      
combination1 and forming either a       
gaseous or a fluid body4 ,it is probable
 that nitrogen might be supplied to     
plants1 through the medium of the       
atmosphere in an artificial manner1 by  
placing within any structure1 a portion 
of some of the volatile salts of        
ammonia1 which latter being given off1  
would at once supply the demands of     
vegetation4 ,carbon might be applied1 by
 the use of charcoal2 and it is worthy  
of experiment how far the combustion of 
charcoal1 in plant structures1 by       
accelerating the formation of carbonic  
acid gas1 may have a beneficial         
influence on vegetation4 ,the use of    
charcoal as an ingredient in the soil1  

though doubtless partly1 and perhaps    
principally mechanical1 is nevertheless 
in all probability rendered advantageous
 in this very way2 the slowness of its  
decomposition must however render the   
quantity applied1 very homoeopathic in  
its nature4  ,a series of experiments   
with the view of ascertaining the       
practicability of continually supplying 
to the atmosphere1 those qualities which
 plants abstract from it1 and of        
determining the manner1 and the degree  
in which they should be applied1 would  
be one of the most interesting and      
important matters1 to which the minds of
 ,horticultural reformers could possibly
 be directed2 but it is most essential1 
to remember1 at the same time1 that     
these are powerful agents1 requiring    
much skill in their adaptation1 and     
capable of effecting serious injury and 
disappointment1 if indiscriminately     
applied4     ,,chap4 ,,ix4  ,,on ,,the  
,,growth ,,of ,,melons4   ,it is barely 
possible to suppose any use to which a  

structure which during the winter season
 had been devoted to the growth of      
,cucumbers1 could be so legitimately    
appropriated in the summer1 as that of  
the growth of the finer ,melons of      
,persia1 ,cashmere1 and the ,east4 ,the 
superiority of such as these1 in every  
point of view1 over those kinds1 which  
have been long in cultivation1 would be 
an ample recompense for the             
appropriation of such valuable space to 
their use2 whilst in no other structure 
could the peculiarities of the treatment
 they require1 be so fully complied     
with1 and be rendered so completely     
under control1 as in that under         
consideration4  ,there are some         
peculiarities in the treatment of these 
,melons1 to the consideration of which1 
it may be desirable to devote a brief   
space2 the most important of these1 are 
the composition of the soil1 the        
application of moisture at the root1 the
 regulation of atmospheric warmth1 and  
also1 of atmospheric moisture2 in these 

particulars1 they offer some differences
 to what has been previously stated1    
with reference to the ,cucumber4  ,the  
soil in which the ,melon delights to    
grow1 is one of a more compact texture  
than is usually regarded as applicable  
for the ,cucumber3 a suitable compost   
consists of the top spit from a loamy   
pasture1 of a texture rather adhesive1  
and retaining the herbage and roots of  
the grass2 this should be collected a   
few months before it is used1 so that   
these vegetable substances may be in a  
decaying state1 and it should be broken 
roughly to pieces1 but by no means      
sifted2 to it1 should be added1 about   
one-fourth part of vegetable mould3 the 
whole should be well incorporated1 and1 
before using1 should be placed in a     
situation where it may not be liable to 
become saturated by heavy rain2 which   
would serve to destroy the free and open
 texture1 which it is so desirable to   
retain4  ,in the application of moisture
 to the soil1 the structure which is    

described in a previous chapter1 will be
 found to present facilities1 which     
peculiarly adapt it for the growth of   
these plants4 ,in ,persia1 and the      
neighbouring countries1 where the ,melon
 is so successfully grown1 the ground is
 irrigated by means of numerous         
channels1 which1 from the limitation of 
their exposed surface1 are not          
peculiarly adapted to supply atmospheric
 moisture2 but are yet sufficiently     
numerous to secure the perfect          
irrigation of the soil1 within the reach
 of the roots4 ,the tubes or shafts1    
represented at 7n7 in the sketch        
referred to above1 are intended to      
communicate directly with a layer of    
coarse open material1 extending entirely
 over the top of the tank1 and beneath  
the soil2 by means of these a supply of 
water should be poured beneath the soil1
 which will thus keep that portion      
immediately about the young roots1 in a 
constant and complete state of          
saturation1 by means of the steam which 

will arise1 in consequence of the heat  
from the tank4 ,a uniformly warm1 and a 
thoroughly moist soil1 will be thus     
easily secured1 which are two important 
points in the growth of ,persian        
,melons4 ,it must be recollected that   
these conditions for supplying moisture1
 are recommended only during the time of
 growing the plants1 and swelling the   
fruit2 but as these latter approach     
their maturity1 the degree of moisture  
must of course be gradually diminished4 
,in connection with this moistened and  
genial soil1 the ,melon has naturally   
the advantage also1 of powerful sun     
heat1 and intense light2 and these are  
two conditions which it is indispensable
 should be supplied in artificial       
cultivation1 as fully as they can       
possibly be obtained4 ,it is by means of
 the moisture of the soil1 that the     
plants are enabled to grow on rapidly   
and vigorously1 because that moisture   
renders the food contained in the soil1 
soluble1 and therefore available to the 

roots2 but the elaboration and          
assimilation of this food depends on the
 degree of light and heat with which    
they are supplied3 without these        
conditions1 to convert the crude sap1 by
 their united agency1 into organic      
compounds1 such as lignin1 gum1 starch1 
and sugar1 and to induce their          
deposition1 the fruit will indeed be    
formed--it will grow1 and perhaps may   
even tempt the eye2 but unless these    
chemical and vital changes have taken   
place in its constituent parts1 the eye1
 as it frequently happens1 will have    
been deceived2 and instead of the palate
 being gratified by a mature and        
luscious fruit1 it will find nothing but
 a tasteless mass of pulp4 ,the plants1 
therefore1 cannot1 in our latitude1     
receive too intense a degree of solar   
heat1 or of light4  ,the same cause     
which renders the natural atmosphere of 
the ,melon countries elevated in        
temperature1 renders it also            
comparatively dry2 the sun drinks up the

 moisture which is deposited near the   
surface1 or which may rise to that      
position2 and by an exceedingly powerful
 influence effectually prevents the     
accumulation of moisture about the      
exposed parts of the plants4 ,the       
atmosphere is nevertheless not in an    
arid state2 the evaporation from a      
well-moistened soil effectually prevents
 this from being the case1 but the      
excessive heat also as effectually and  
continually prevents an undue           
accumulation of moisture in the         
atmosphere4 ,the application of this    
fact1 to artificial practice1 is plain2 
a less amount of moisture artificially  
applied1 in comparison with the         
temperature1 must be permitted1 than    
when the cultivation of those plants is 
attempted whose natural habitats are    
less strongly featured in this respect4 
,such considerations as these naturally 
force on us the conclusion1 that it is  
vain to attempt the cultivation of this 
noble fruit1 except during that portion 

of the year when the sun exerts his     
greatest power in our latitude4 ,it is  
not because they cannot be induced to   
grow at any other period of the year1   
for the mere extension of vegetable     
tissue will go on1 though the influence 
of the natural agents is but limited and
 feeble2 but it is because maturity1    
perfect development1 and1 above all1 the
 full assimilation of the sap1 cannot   
take place sufficiently to ensure a good
 flavour in the fruit1 except light and 
heat are not only unimpeded and         
constant1 but powerful and united in    
their action4     ,,chap4 ,x4           
,,concluding ,,remarks4   ,i will here  
briefly recall attention to a most      
important point which the cultivator    
should continually keep in view3 it is  
most important that he should study     
,nature2 for if we may believe our      
senses1 or place any confidence in      
overwhelming evidence1 we may be certain
 that all the conditions we observe in a
 natural state of things1 have been     

planned by an ,all-wise hand2 and       
further1 that a finite mind can never   
attempt with success1 either to surpass 
or to dispense with any portion of that 
which an infinite being has ordained4   
,order is ,heaven's first law1 and in   
whatever we may attempt to do1 we shall 
not be wise1 if we endeavour to effect  
our purpose by any means which may      
distort the fair proportions which      
unaided nature presents to our view4 ,in
 cultivating plants1 therefore1 we      
should administer the conditions which  
are favourable to their growth and      
development1 in somewhat the same       
proportions each to the other1 in which 
they are naturally blended--not         
supplying one essential1 in an undue    
manner1 and1 at the same time1          
neglecting others2 for successful       
cultivation must ever depend upon the   
connection and influence of numerous    
circumstances upon each other1 and can  
never be attained1 unless these         
conditions are complied with1 either    

designedly1 or1 as it often happens1 by 
mere accident4  ,another point which it 
is important to keep in view1 is that   
instructions should be studied1 rather  
than copied1 in their application to    
practice4 ,no instructions can be given 
that should be blindly and implicitly   
followed4 ,the circumstances under which
 plants are placed are varying every    
day1 and even every hour1 and1 to be    
successful1 horticultural practice must 
be varied also4 ,it must1 however1 be   
varied according to principle4 ,but even
 what are regarded as established laws  
and principles should not be heedlessly 
followed2 to be truly successful1 a man 
must not only be a practical enthusiast 
and a keen theorist2 he must also be a  
skilful experimentalist3 his experiments
 and their results1 if carefully        
watched1 deduced1 recorded1 and studied1
 will serve to guide him for the future4
     ,,appendix4   ,on ,heating1        
,ventilating or ,aerating1 and          
,covering4  ,since the publication of   

the first edition of this work in #ahdd1
 the views expressed in the second      
chapter1 with reference to structures   
best adapted for ,cucumber culture in   
the winter season1 have met with much   
corroborative support4 ,respecting the  
questions of heating1 ventilation1 and  
covering1 a few more words may be added4
  ,i have before recommended hot water  
tanks for supplying bottom heat1 with   
attached pipes for the circulation of   
hot water to warm the atmosphere4 ,i can
 see no reason for recommending any     
other arrangement now2 for the          
experience of successive years goes to  
show that hot water1 applied on sound   
principles1 is1 above all other means of
 heating1 effective in its operation2   
and as to the question of expense1      
raised as an objection to it by some1 it
 is sufficient to say1 that1 although   
one hot water apparatus may be fitted up
 in an expensive manner1 another may be 
rendered perfectly successful in its    
operation1 at the same time that it is  

extremely simple in its arrangements1   
and correspondingly inexpensive in its  
cost4  ,a seeming error in the          
engraving1 at p4 #ah1 has been pointed  
out to me4 ,in the description of the   
sketch it is stated that1 a series of   
pipes attached to the same boiler which 
heats the tank would supply the         
requisite heat to the atmosphere4 ,the  
sketch itself shows these pipes to be   
considerably above the level of the     
water in the tank1 and where they could 
not1 consistently with the other        
arrangements1 be thus employed4 ,this   
may be explained thus3--the sketch was  
introduced rather for the purpose of    
illustrating certain proposed           
arrangements1 as regards bottom heat and
 ventilation1 than as furnishing an     
exact and detailed design for a model   
structure2 and thus it happened that the
 pipes were merely shown to be placed at
 the front part of the house1 to        
indicate that this was their proper     
relative position4 ,there would be no   

practical difficulty in placing the     
pipes lower down1 and nearly close to   
the front wall1 so as to admit of the   
proposed connection2 all that would be  
required to effect this1 being to fix   
the slab1 on which they rest--and which 
prevents the air from rushing upwards   
into the atmosphere of the house at this
 point--in a sloping position1 instead  
of a horizontal one4  ,the principle    
involved in the plan proposed for       
aration or ventilation1 is no doubt a   
sound one2 and though the plan which is 
more particularly described may be      
modified and varied1 yet it is believed 
to be efficient for its intended        
purpose4  ,there can be no doubt that   
the admission of cold air to a structure
 in which tender plants are being       
forced1 either during winter or early   
spring1 is materially hurtful to the    
plants1 in proportion to the tenderness 
of their constitution2 and the ,cucumber
 being1 under those circumstances1 a    
plant of a very tender and delicate     

nature1 is especially susceptible of    
harm from this source4 ,as a consequence
 resulting from this fact1 there can be 
little hesitation in affirming that     
whatever fresh or external air it may be
 necessary to admit1 during the period  
referred to1 should be warmed before it 
reaches the plants1 and in being warmed 
not burned1 but supplied with the       
additional moisture its increased heat  
capacitates it to take up1 and which1 to
 be congenial to vegetation1 it         
requires4 ,this is provided for by the  
plan already recommended1 where the cold
 air is made to pass through the tank   
containing the heated water which warms 
the soil4 ,by a perfectly practicable   
modification of this arrangement1 not   
only may this result be secured1 but    
also the continual circulation of the   
internal atmosphere may at pleasure be  
assisted and accelerated1 during the    
time when it might not be necessary to  
admit fresh air4 ,this would be an      
additional advantage4 ,the arrangement  

proposed to effect this1 is to conduct  
the cold external air through a heated  
chamber containing the tanks--these     
latter being covered1 but also admitting
 of being opened to any extent to supply
 moisture or steam in the proportion    
required4 ,the cold air1 after passing  
upwards through the chamber1 escapes at 
the front of the house1 and ascends to  
the upper part of the house1 from whence
 it finds its way downwards near the    
back wall1 and there again enters the   
chamber1 through openings provided for  
the purpose4 ,the circulation of the    
internal atmosphere would be thus       
facilitated and accelerated1 even       
without the admission of any current of 
external air1 for1 of course1 there is  
more or less of this kind of movement   
going on in the atmosphere1 wherever and
 in whatever form a source of artificial
 heat is present4 ,another mode of      
combining internal atmospheric motion1  
with ventilation1 and by which the cold 
air is warmed before it reaches the     

plants1 has been practised with very    
marked success1 in a vinery at          
,park-hill1 ,streatham1 ,surrey2 and ,i 
have described it in the ,journal of the
 ,horticultural ,society#a as           
follows3--,this plan consists in passing
 a zinc pipe1 thickly perforated with   
small holes1 from end to end of the     
vinery1 and exactly beneath the range of
 hot water pipes1 which heat the        
structure4 ,in the outer end wall1      
communicating with this perforated pipe 
by means of a kind of broad funnel1 a   
register valve is fixed1 by which the   
admission of air can be regulated with  
the utmost nicety1 or the supply be shut
 off altogether3 this valve is fixed a  
little below the level of the perforated
 pipe4 ,the action of this contrivance  
was evident enough from the motion      
communicated to the foliage of the      
vines2 and its effects were apparent in 
the unusually healthy and vigorous      
appearance they bore1 until their period
 of ripening4 ,in this case1 sufficient 

moisture was kept up by syringing the   
walls and pipes1 wetting the pathway1   
and by the use of evaporating troughs1  
placed on the metal pipes1 and kept     
constantly filled with water4  ,in      
another communication published in the  
work already quoted1#b after alluding to
 the now well-known garden truism1 that 
a comparatively low night temperature is
 indispensable to the maintenance of    
vigorous growth in plants of all kinds1 
,i have advocated a more extended       
adoption of the practice of night       
covering hot houses1 as a means of      
permitting the low night temperature    
required1 and at the same time securing 
the plants against the extreme cold to  
which they would thus be sometimes      
liable4 ,from the changeable nature of  
our climate1 there is some difficulty in
 apportioning the degree of applied     
heat1 so as to suit exactly the         
requirements of the plants in these     
respects2 and it is especially difficult
 to maintain with certainty the low     

degree of night temperature which would 
be desirable1 and at the same time avoid
 risking the safety of the plants1      
through a sudden declension of the      
temperature of the exterior air4 ,at    
present this difficulty has to be met by
 extraordinary care on the part of the  
gardener1 and often by serious          
encroachments on his proper time for    
study and for rest3 even then sometimes 
without success4 ,this end would be much
 more effectually and certainly secured 
by a complete system of covering        
hot-houses and forcing-houses2 and this 
plan would secure the further advantage 
of avoiding the undue stimulation of the
 plants by a then unnecessary amount of 
heat1 applied solely to prevent the very
 evil which covering also prevents1     
namely1 the risk of excessive cold      
during the night4  ,the principle upon  
which a covering acts most efficiently1 
is that of enclosing a complete body or 
stratum of air exterior to the glass1   
this body of air being entirely shut    

away from the surrounding outer         
atmosphere4 ,air being a bad conductor  
of heat1 the warmth of the interior is  
by this means prevented from passing to 
the exterior atmosphere2 or1 in other   
words1 the exterior atmosphere1 being   
prevented from coming in contact with   
the glass1 cannot absorb from the       
interior any material proportion of its 
heat4 ,to secure this advantage1        
however1 the coverings must be kept from
 contact with the glass1 and they should
 extend on every side where the         
structure is formed of materials which  
readily conduct heat--such as glass or  
iron4 ,the coverings should in fact form
 neither more nor less than a close     
outer case4  ,one point connected with  
the application of these coverings1     
which ,i consider would constitute an   
improvement1 and which1 as far as ,i am 
aware1 has never been acted on1 is that 
of having them to fit so accurately as  
to exclude the external air 7a matter of
 no difficulty in the degree required71 

and then to have a series of ventilators
 provided1 to stand open during the     
night1 whereby an interchange of the    
atmospheric volume would take place     
throughout the night1 without exposing  
the plants to contact with cold air4    
,the stagnation of the internal         
atmosphere would thus be prevented1 in  
consequence of the interior air and the 
air between the glass and the covering  
being of different degrees of density1  
owing to their being differently charged
 with heat4 ,by this plan1 therefore1 ,i
 conceive that direct benefit would     
accrue to the plants2 and it would also 
materially assist in preserving that    
cooler--but not cold--night temperature1
 which the fear of injury from frost    
prevents from being more fully realised 
in ordinary cases4   ,illustration      
,the annexed diagram represents one of  
the many ways in which this idea might  
be carried into practice4 ,it will be   
understood that1 as here shown1 the side
 shutters and end shutters 7the latter  

not indicated71 fit into grooves1 the   
upper groove being attached to iron     
pins1 and thus fixed at a proper        
distance from the building1 without     
obstructing the passage of air along the
 enclosed space2 and that on the lower  
side being so fixed as to exclude the   
external air in that direction4 ,the top
 or roof shutters also run into a groove
 along the ridge of the roof1 and at the
 lower end fix close down to the top of 
the side shutters1 fastening with a     
button4 ,each of the shutters should    
have a projecting fillet fixed on one   
side1 so as to shut close over the      
adjoining one4 ,the shutters themselves 
should of course be made of light       
frame-work1 strengthened where          
necessary1 with small iron rods4 ,the   
material used for covering them may be  
the asphalte felt1 now manufactured     
extensively for roofing purposes1 or    
strong brown paper1 coated with tar2 the
 latter is used extensively in ,germany 
for this purpose1 and is found to be    

very durable and cheap2 it is there even
 preferred to every other material4     
,though the covering of hot-houses has  
been already practised in some cases1 ,i
 am not aware of any one having adopted 
a close covering with the view to       
facilitate ventilation or aration during
 the night4 ,it appears to me that the  
circulation of air1 secured by the means
 here proposed1 would have much         
influence in excluding cold1 whilst at  
the same time it would prevent the      
interior from becoming too warm and     
close4   ,on ,transplanting and the use 
of ,turf ,pots4  ,i have1 at p4 #bf1    
given what appear to me to be some of   
the principal reasons against the       
practice of transplanting1 or planting  
out1 ,cucumber and other plants4 ,when  
this is done after any quantity of roots
 are produced1 some injury or check must
 be sustained during the process2 and   
checks of this kind are opposed to the  
realisation of the greatest results     
within the shortest period1 which of    

course is the great object in view4     
,where it is inconvenient to plant the  
seeds in the places the plants are      
intended to occupy1 or to put out the   
young plants during the earliest period 
of their development1 or where          
propagation by cuttings or layers1 is   
adopted1 and the plants of course have  
to be potted separately1 so as to be in 
a removable state1 the following simple 
plan may be adopted1 and will be found  
to combine all the advantages and       
conveniences attending the use of pots1 
with the avoidance of the evils of      
transplantation1 c4 ,the plan referred  
to1 consists in the employment of turf  
or peat1 so contrived as to supply the  
place of pots1 and which of course at   
the time of planting is simply placed1  
along with the plant it contains1 at    
once into the soil1 without in the least
 disturbing the roots1 which1 growing   
through the substance of the turf1      
extend beyond it in all directions into 
the free soil provided for them4 ,these 

turf pots are made of spongy1 fibrous   
turf--whether loamy or peaty is not     
material1 provided it is full of fibre1 
so as to admit of being readily         
traversed by the roots4 ,the grassy     
surface is evenly removed1 and the      
under-turves are cut three or four      
inches in thickness1 and are then       
divided into squares of about three     
inches across4 ,the centre of each of   
these little squares is taken out by    
means of an iron scoop1 such as that    
represented in the annexed sketch2 and  
this is then filled up with soil1 and   
the plant1 or seed1 or cutting1 or      
layer1 inserted as if it were into an   
ordinary flower pot4 ,it will be obvious
 that by this plan1 every plant is      
independent and perfectly               
removable--thus securing the convenience
 of sowing or planting and rearing the  
plants in pots during their earliest    
stages3 on the other hand1 at the time  
of planting out permanently1 the plant1 
turf1 and all being set carefully into  

the soil1 no check is sustained1 because
 the roots remain undisturbed1 and may1 
as they advance1 penetrate through the  
turf into the prepared soil which       
surrounds them2 in this way the         
advantages of sowing or planting at the 
very first in the position the plants   
are intended to occupy permanently1 are 
secured4   ,illustration   ,this plan of
 sowing seeds1 or of planting young     
plants intended for transplantation1    
into pots made of turf1 is not only     
applicable to cucumbers1 but might be   
very extensively adopted in the case of 
annuals and half hardy plants raised in 
frames1 during the spring1 in large     
quantities for the flower garden4 ,in   
these cases1 however1 as the quantity   
that could be reared within a given     
space would be an object1 the turves    
should be as small as possible in their 
lateral dimensions--a bore of two inches
 and a half1 with half an inch on each  
side1 thus making the diameter three    
inches and a half1 would be found       

convenient in this respect4 ,for        
cucumbers1 however1 or when the plan was
 applied to any special object1 a larger
 size might be employed1 which would    
allow of the plants attaining a larger  
size before it would be necessary to    
place them in their permanent positions4
   ,on ,watering the ,soil4  ,in the    
diagram at p4 #ah1 and the description  
of it at p4 #bj1 ,i have indicated and  
recommended a plan of moistening the    
soil by pouring water down beneath the  
soil3 this was to be done by the help of
 tubes provided for the purpose4 ,the   
soil was supposed to rest on the top of 
the hot water-tank1 which was to supply 
bottom heat2 and immediately beneath the
 soil1 a layer of open rubble was       
proposed to be placed1 among which the  
water applied might find its way1 and   
gradually moisten the superincumbent    
soil4 ,mr4 ,hunter1 gardener at ,mawley 
,hall1 in detailing#c his sixteen years'
 experience in tank-heating1 has in     
great measure corroborated these views2 

and as his corroboration of the plan ,i 
have recommended1 embodies some useful  
hints1 ,i will quote the substance of   
his remarks3--,i had a pit erected1     
thirty-eight feet long1 seven and a half
 wide1 divided into four compartments1  
for growing melons and cucumbers1 with a
 tank extending the whole length of the 
pit1 six feet wide and six inches deep4 
,across this ,i put larch spars1 and    
upon them turves1 with the grassy side  
downwards1 and on them the soil for the 
melons and cucumbers4 ,the plants grew  
and did well for a time1 but they were  
of short duration in comparison with the
 dung-bed4 ,instead of the moisture     
ascending through the soil as ,i        
expected1 ,i found that the heat from   
the tank dried the turves and soil next 
to them as dry as dust1 and that there  
was no such thing as obtaining a moist  
heat from hot water without the soil was
 in contact with it4 ,next year ,i put  
broken stones upon the spars1 and turves
 upon them1 and made my arrangements so 

that ,i could occasionally run water in 
the tank to wet the turves and the soil 
next them4 ,this was an improvement2 and
 ,i went on prosperously for some years1
 till the spars began to decay4 ,i then 
had iron bars put across1 and two of the
 compartments covered with squares1 a   
foot in diameter1 and one inch thick2   
the other two with slates2 both slates  
and squares jointed with ,roman cement1 
to prevent the soil from getting into   
the tank1 as ,i had found the           
inconvenience of it when using the      
spars4 ,i put some broken stones upon   
the covers1 and turves upon them1 and   
then the soil4 ,here my original        
difficulty occurred2 the soil next the  
covers got too dry1 and to moisten it   
from above was impracticable1 without   
making the soil a complete puddle1 which
 would have stopped the healthy growth  
of the plants4 ,to remedy this1 ,i put  
six small earthen pipes into each       
division1 the one end resting upon the  
tank covers1 the other standing up above

 the soil4 ,when ,i found by the watch  
sticks that the soil was getting dry1 ,i
 poured water down the pipes through a  
tin funnel which ,i had made on purpose2
 this spread itself over the surface of 
the tank covers1 and diffused a gentle  
moisture to the soil1 so congenial to   
the growth of plants4 ,this was a move  
in the right direction4 ,i then thought 
that it would be better to pour the     
manure water down upon the tank covers1 
which ,i have done since4 ,i found the  
broken stones over the tank covers      
troublesome2 they were also a harbour   
for wood-lice4 ,i now use only a layer  
of leaves next the covers1 and they are 
cleared out with the soil4   ,on        
,atmospheric ,humidity4  ,cucumbers     
cannot at any time be successfully grown
 in an arid atmosphere1 although1 during
 the winter season1 they require a much 
less proportion of atmospheric humidity1
 than under the influence of longer days
 and brighter light2 and conversely1 the
 degree which would be necessary to     

secure their welfare in summer1 would be
 fatal to them in winter4 ,an           
experienced gardener would tell almost  
instinctively1 at either season1 whether
 a sufficient supply was present or not2
 but less experienced cultivators would 
need some index1 or register1 to guide  
them4 ,such an index is afforded by the 
hygrometer2 but most of the kinds of    
hygrometers are delicate instruments1   
and hardly suited for garden use4 ,what 
is needed in this case is1 not an       
instrument which requires minute        
observations and calculations1 but      
something that will at once indicate the
 atmospheric humidity as plainly as the 
thermometer does the temperature1 and   
which may be as easily read off and     
understood4 ,simmons' hygrometer1       
recently introduced to the notice of    
horticulturists1 professes to supply    
this desideratum2 and though1 perhaps1  
not a sufficiently accurate instrument  
for purely scientific purposes1 yet1 as 
simply and clearly indicating what is at

 least an approximation to the existing 
degree of atmospheric humidity1 it is to
 be regarded as a useful garden         
hygrometer4 ,by it1 the degree of       
dryness or humidity is indicated on a   
dial-plate1 by means of a moveable arm  
resembling the hand of a clock4 ,the    
dial-plate is marked off into degrees1  
expressing the amount of moisture in the
 air1 between what is observed when the 
instrument is plunged in water on the   
one hand1 and exposed to excessive      
dryness on the other4 ,as my own        
experience of this instrument1 though   
favourable to its use1 is still but     
limited1 ,i cannot do better than       
introduce here the following remarks of 
,mr4 ,beck1 of ,isleworth1 a very       
successful cultivator of plants1 and one
 who has had considerable experience in 
the use of these instruments4 ,it will  
be observed that ,mr4 ,beck's standard  
for the orchid-house will be about      
suitable for cucumbers4#d ,mr4 ,beck    
observes1--,the skilful gardener1       

observing the pointer to advance with   
dryness and return with moisture1 will  
soon form a standard for himself1 by    
which to regulate his stove1 greenhouse1
 c42 still some general scale is        
desirable4 ,two conditions must be      
carefully observed3--#a4 ,the instrument
 must neither be hung in the sun1 nor   
where it will be liable to get wetted or
 saturated4 #b4 ,it must not be         
subjected to greater heat than is suited
 to vegetable life4 ,for the six months 
commencing with ,august and ending with 
,january1 #dj deg4 in1 the morning1     
increasing to #fj deg4 about noon1 and  
declining again to #dj deg4 at night1 is
 about the right scale for the          
orchid-house2 whilst a range from #ej   
deg4 to #hj deg4 would be suitable for  
both the stove and greenhouse in those  
months4 ,in the other half year1        
,february and ,july inclusive1 #cj deg4 
to #dj deg41 morning and evening1       
running up to #hj deg4 in the middle of 
the day for the orchid-house2 #dj deg4  

and #ej deg41 and up to #gj deg4 for the
 stove2 and #ej deg4 to #hj deg4 for the
 greenhouse1 will prove very suitable4  
,the above scale is desirable1 but ,i do
 not say it is always attainable4 ,ours 
is an uncertain climate2 sometimes a dry
 east wind will almost parch us up2 at  
other times a southerly one1 with wet1  
will cause a superabundance1 which will 
have to be corrected1 possibly by a     
gentle fire1 and a free admission of    
air4 ,the alteration hereby effected in 
the atmosphere of the houses will soon  
be evidenced by the hygrometer1 and     
mildew and fogging off be kept at a     
distance4 ,opposed to an excess of      
moisture in the dull months of the year1
 is the dryness consequent on the summer
 and autumnal sunshine4 ,then1 during   
the heat of the days1 the instrument    
will seem to have run wild4 ,throwing   
water on the floors of the houses1 and  
every means of increasing the amount of 
moisture1 seems but of little or        
temporary avail2 ,simmons will go up1   

spite of all1 to #ij deg4 or #ajj deg41 
and none the worse either1 for it is    
still a faithful indicator1 and as sure 
as the day declines1 and the heat of the
 sun is withdrawn1 so will it come back 
to a suitable point1 when the plants are
 watered and the floors are wetted for  
the night4 ,remembering then1 the       
variableness of our climate1 ,i candidly
 admit that ,i consider any precise     
directions of very little value4 ,none  
can be given that shall be implicitly   
followed1 or on which success shall     
certainly attend4 ,horticultural        
practice should be made dependant upon  
ever-varying circumstances4  ,mr4       
,belville1 of the ,royal ,observatory1  
has constructed the following ,table1   
from a series of observations made with 
,simmons' hygrometer in connexion with  
the dew point1 as obtained by a ,mason's
 hygrometer1 or a dry and wet           
thermometer4                            
----------------------------------------
--------------------------     ,range   

,mean                                   
of ,simmons'    ,humidity of            
,hygrometer4       the ,air4            
--------------------------              
#bj to  #cj        #ajj  ,extreme       
saturation2 air precipitates            
moisture at a fall of temperature4      
#cj  44  #dj         #jif               
#dj  44  #ej         #jhi               
#ej  44  #fj         #jha               
#fj  44  #gj         #jgg               
#gj  44  #hj         #jgb   ,ordinary   
fine dry weather4               #hj  44 
#ij         #jfg                        
#ij  44 #ajj         #jei               
#ajj  44 #abj         #jej   ,air       
contains one half of the moisture       
it is capable of holding in solution2   
in ,england very dry weather4           
----------------------------------------
-------------------------               
,example3--,suppose hygrometer read #de1
 the mean humidity      corresponding is
 #ic4 ,again1 if hygrometer read #ij1   
the mean humidity      corresponding is 

#ei4   ,mushrooms4 7,see p4 #bb47       
,convenience for growing mushrooms may  
always be planned in a cucumber house2  
and as these excellent fungi are        
universally approved1 it may be useful  
to append an epitome of the mode in     
which they should be cultivated4  ,the  
best1 or1 at least1 most convenient     
situation for the bed1 would be beneath 
that provided for the cucumber plants   
7see p4 #ah74 ,the front may be formed  
of two course of brick-on-edge1 and if  
divisions are required1 they should be  
formed in the same way4 ,the bottom     
should be made even1 and rendered dry4  
,the material for forming the bed itself
 consists of short stable litter1 with  
horse-droppings1 but chiefly the latter1
 brought to a certain state of          
fermentation4 ,the droppings and litter 
should be obtained daily from the       
stable1 until enough for a bed is       
collected2 it should1 from day to day1  
be thrown up into a flattish heap1 in a 
dry place1 where it will ferment very   

slightly4 ,as soon as enough is got     
together to begin to ferment1 the heap  
must be turned over2 and in these       
turnings1 the outer and inner parts of  
the heap1 as well as the fresh and the  
fermenting1 must be well mixed up       
together2 the heaps should be turned    
every second day1 and should never be   
made large1 or else the dung would      
become both too hot and too dry1 either 
of which would spoil it4 ,to avoid this1
 the heaps should be flat and shallow1  
with as much outside as possible2 in    
this way the air1 acting on a           
considerable portion of it1 renders it  
rather dry1 and checks too rapid        
fermentation4 ,this preparation must be 
continued until the whole mass is       
brought to an uniform mild1 dryish state
 of fermentation4 ,then the bed may be  
made in the following manner3--,about   
three inches of the prepared dung is    
laid evenly over the bottom1 and is     
beaten down firmly with a flat heavy    
wooden mallet4 ,another layer is then   

put on in the same way1 and this is     
repeated until the bed is formed to a   
thickness of about six inches4 ,the next
 two inches of the dung should have     
about a sixth part of light turfy loam  
reduced to mould1 and sifted1 mixed with
 it to give it body4 ,the bed is now    
prepared1 and is to be spawned as soon  
as it is seen that it does not heat     
violently4 ,the heat ought not to exceed
 #ij degrees3 if it reaches higher than 
this1 holes must be made1 a few inches  
apart1 to let the heat pass off1 and in 
a day or two these may be filled up     
again4 ,the spawn is to be put in when  
the heat ranges about #ge degrees2 lumps
 of spawn about as large as a small egg 
may be used2 a hole should be made with 
the fingers about two inches deep1 the  
spawn inserted1 and the material of the 
bed closed about it4 ,probably by this  
time there will be no danger of         
overheating1 and if so1 the soil may be 
put on2 if1 however1 there is any       
inclination to overheat1 wait till it   

has passed off before putting on the    
soil4 ,the soil used should be          
decomposed turfy loam1 moderately dry1  
so as to bear compression without       
running together like paste1 but damp   
enough to become firm1 close1 and even1 
when beaten closely4 ,about two inches  
in thickness should be put on1 and this 
is to be beaten down quite firm and     
close4 ,the beds are then finished4 ,it 
is as well to cover the surface with a  
thin layer of short hay1 to prevent it  
becoming quite dry4 ,mushroom beds      
seldom require water2 after they have   
been some time in bearing1 the beds     
sometimes get dry1 and in such cases1 if
 they have a moderate soaking of tepid  
water1 and the surface is covered as    
before1 a new crop will spring up4 ,the 
covering is best removed when the beds  
are in bearing4 ,it is seldom advisable 
to apply water when the beds are coming 
into bearing4 ,water should never be    
used in any other than a tepid state4   
,mushrooms are most prized in the       

summer1 though the atmosphere of a      
cucumber-house would not then be        
suitable for them1 unless the space     
about them could be closed in1 so as to 
retain a close1 somewhat humid          
atmosphere4 ,they would succeed very    
well without being enclosed1 during the 
season for forcing cucumbers4  ,under   
the treatment which has been detailed1  
the beds would usually come into bearing
 in about six weeks from the time of    
spawning2 and1 under favourable         
circumstances1 would continue in bearing
 for two or three months4               
,footnotes3  #a ,the ,journal of the    
,horticultural ,society of ,london1 vol4
 ,i4 p4 #aad4  #b ,ib4 vol4 ,,ii4 p4    
#bi4  #c ,gardener's ,journal1 #ahdg1 p4
 #cci4  #d ,gardener's ,chronicle #ahdg4
     ,transcriber's ,notes3  ,passages  
in italics are indicated by underscore4 
,the following misprints have been      
corrected3   influenee corrected to     
influence 7page #ba7   circumstauces    
corrected to circumstances 7page #cb7   

analagous corrected to analogous 7page  
#cf7   shonld corrected to should 7page 
#cf7   distributiug corrected to        
distributing 7page #dj7   appropaiated  
corrected to appropriated 7page #ee7    
conditious corrected to conditions 7page
 #gb7  ,other than the corrections      
listed above1 printer's inconsistencies 
in spelling and hyphenation usage have  
been retained4  ,punctuation has been   
corrected without note4