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George William Johnson.

The cottage gardeners' dictionary. Describing the plants, fruits, and vegetables desirable for the garden, and explaining the terms and operations employed in their cultivation

. (page 51 of 162)

The object of mixed cropping is to
obtain the largest amount of produce in
the shortest time from a given space.
The subject cannot be treated in detail
within these limited pages ; and we
must, therefore, refer our readers to an
essay on the subject in The Cot lay e
Gardener, v. xJ74. See Rotation of Crops.

CROSSA'NDRA. ('From krossos, a fringe,
and aner, an anther ; fringed anthers
or pollen bags. Nat. ord., Acantliads
[Acanthacese]. Linn., 14^-Teiradynamia
2-Angiospermia. Allied to Justicia.)

A showy stove evergreen shrub; peat and
loam ; cuttings root readily irt sand, in bottom-
heat, at any season, under glass.

C. undulcefo'lia (wave -leaved). l. Orange,
scarlet. March. East Indies. 1800.

CROTALA'RIA. (From krotalon, a cas-
tanet, or hand rattle ; the seeds rattle
in the pod if shaken. Nat. ord., Legu-
minous Plants [Fabacere]. Linn., 1(5-
Monadelph'ta Q-J)ecandri<i. Allied to the
Lupines.)

Notwithstanding the great number of Cro-
talarias, with their gay coloured pea-flowers,
they are not much prized by gardeners, owing
to the difficulty of preserving them from the
attacks of the red spider. Seed ; perennial
kinds easily from cuttings, in sand, under glass;
loam and peat.

STOVE ANNUALS, &C.

C. acumina'ta (.pointed-leaved). 1. Yellow.
July. Cape of Good Hope. 1820. Half-
hardy.

ala'ta (winged). 1. Pale yellow. July.

Nepaul. 1818. Biennial.

ungula'ta (angled). 1. Yellow. June. South

America. 1700.

- blala'ta (two-winged). 1. Yellow. June.
1820.

bifa'ria (two-rowered). 3. Yellow. July.

East Indies. 1817.

- Burma' nni (Burmann's). 1. Yellow. July.
East Indies, isno.

calyci'na (large-calyxed). 1. Blue. June.

East Indies. 181 6.

Cube'imis (Cuba). 1. Yellow. July. Cuba.

1820.



.fu'lva (tawny). 1. Yellow. June. East
Indies. 1817-

glau'ca (milky-green). 1. Yellow. July.

Guinea. 1824.

hirsu'ta (hairy). 1. Yellow. July. East

Indies. 1818.

LH\sdo';/u(Langsdorf's). I. Yellow. June.
1820.

microphy'lla (small-leaved). %. Yellow.

July. Arabia. 1820. Trailer.
ovu'lis (oval) . 1. Yellow. July. Carolina.

1810. Half-hardy.
pu'mila (dwarf). . Yellow. June. Cuba.

1823. Trailer.
jiurpura'scem (purplish). 1. Purple. July.

Madagascar. 1825.
Pu'rshii (Pursh's). 1. Yellow. June. North

America. 1800. Half-hardy.

Senegale'nsis (Senegal). 1. Yellow. June.

Senegal. 1819.

spccta'bilis (showy). l. Purple. July.

East Indies. 1820.

stipula'ris (large-stipuled). 1. Yellow. July.
Cayenne. 1823.

tria'ntha (three-flowered) . 2. Yellow. June.

Mexico. 1824.

tubero'sa, (tuberous). 1. Purple. June.
Nepaul. 1821. Greenhouse.

verruco'sa (warted). 1. Blue. June. West

Indies. 1731.

acumina'ta (pointed-fcurprf). 1.

Blue. July. East Indies. 1731.

villo'sa (soft-haired). 1. Yellow. June. Cape

of Good Hope. 1824. Half-hardy.
GREENHOUSE EVERGREENS.
, arge'ntea (silvery). 1. Yellow. June. Cape

of Good Hope. 1823.
dicho'tonm (forked). 1. Yellow. July.

Mexico. 1824.

obscu'ra (obscure). 2. Yellow. June. Cape
of Good Hope. 1820.

Theba'ica (Theban). 2. Yellow. June.

Egypt. 1818.

STOVE EVERGREENS.
. unagyroi'des (Anagyris-like). b. Yellow.
July. Trinidad. 1823.

anthylloi'des (Anthyllis-like). 4. Yellow.

August. East Indies. 1/89.

Berteria'na (Barter's). 2. Yellow. June.

West Indies. 1818.

bractea'tu (large-bracted). 4. Yellow. July.

East Indies. 1820.

Bro'wnea (Browne's). 4. Yellow. July.

Jamaica. 1816.

cajanifo'lia (Cajan-leaved). 6. Yellow. Au-

gust. South America. 1824.

Chine'nsis (Chinese). 2. Yellow. June.

China. 1818.

cytiaoi'des (Cytisus-like). 3. Yellow. July.

East Indies. 1826.
folio'sa (leafy). 3. Yellow. June. East

Indies. 1818.
-fnitico'stt (shrubby). 2. Yellow. June.

Jamaica. 17^6.

linifo'lia (Flax-leaved). 1. Yellow. July.

Nepaul. 1820.

medicuffi'nca (Medicjuto-hke). 1. Yellow,

green. June. East Indies. 1816.

No'eec Holla'ndia: (New Holland). 2. Purple.

June. New Holland. 1823. Her-
baceous perennial.



CRO



CRY



C. panicula'ta (panicled). 3. Yellow. June.
Java. 1820.

pelli'ta (furred). 1. Yellow. July. Jamaica.

1820.

pe'ndula (hanging-down). 5. Yellow. Au-

gust. Jamaica. 1820.

procu'mbens (lying-down). 1. Yellow. June.

Mexico. 1823. Herbaceous perennial.

Roxburghia'na (Roxburgh's). 2. Yellow.

June. East Indies. 1820.

sMu'ta (streaked-flowered). 3. Yellow, red.

Mauritius. 1831.

tenuifo'lia (line-leaved). 2. Yellow. June.

East Indies. 1816.

tu'rgida (swollen). 3. Yellow. July. 1820.

virga'ta (twiggy). 3. Yellow. June, East

Indies. 1816.

CRO 'TON. (From kroiou, a tick ; re-
ferring to the appearance of the seeds.
Nat. ord., Spwryewortt [Euphorbiace;e],
Lirin., 21 - Moncecia 10 - Monadelphla.
Allied to Jatropha.)

The most powerful of purgatives is Croton oil
obtained from the seeds of C. TigliUm. Stove
evergreen shrubs, except C. rosmarinifolia ;
loam and peat; cuttings root readily in sand,
under glass, in heat.

C. eleute'ria (Sea-side balsam). 6. White,
green. July. Jamaica. 1748.

glabe'lla (smoothish. Laurel-leaved'}. 6.

White, green. Jamaica. 1778.

linea'rls (narrow- tea y erf). 6. White, green.

July. West Indies. 1773.

pi'cta (painted). 4. White, green. July.

East Indies. 1810.

rosmarinifo'lia (Rosemary-leaved). 5. June.

New Holland. 1824. Greenhouse.

Ti'glium (Tiglium). 10. White, green.

East Indies. 1796.

variega'ta (variegated). 10. White, green.

East Indies. 1804.
cri'spa (curled). 6. White, green.

July. East Indies. 1804.
longifo'lia (long- leaved). 2. White,

green. India. 1847.
~ me'dia (intermediate). 6. White,

green. July. East Indies. 1804.

CROWBERRY. Empc'trum ni'yrum.

CRO 'WE A. (Named after J. Crowe, a
British botanist. Nat. ord., Rueworts
Rutaceee]. Linn., W-Decandria 1-
Monogynia. Allied to Boronia.)

Greenhouse evergreen shrubs from New Hol-
land. Cuttings root readily in sand, under
glass ; loam and peat.

C.elli'ptica(ov*l-leaved). 3. Pink. July. 1845.

lattjo'ha (broad-leaved), 3. Purple. July.

Sali'gna (Willow-leaved). 3. Purple. Sec-

tember. 1790.

stri'cta (upright). 2. Pink. 1845.
CROWFOOT. Ranun'cidus.
CRUCIFERS. Crossworts. Flowers are

called micifers when composed of four
petals placed opposite each other, like
those of the cabbage and turnip. They



include all those plants arranged by
Linnaeus in the loth class of his system
Tetradynamia.

CRUCIANE'LLA. Crosswort. (From
the diminutive of crux, a cross ; refer-
ring to the way the leaves are arranged.
Nat. ord., Stellates [Galiacea?]. Linn.,
i-I'etrandria \-Monoyynia. Allied to
Rubia.)

The leaves of all the plants in this order are
produced in whorls along the stem, hence the
name of the order, which has been reared on
the ruins of Rubiaceae, which is now cancelled.
The greenhouse species thrive well in loam
and peat, and readily increase by cuttings ;
the hardy perennial kinds by seed and division,
in garden soil. There are several annual spe-
cies, but not worth cultivating.

GREENHOUSE EVERGREENS.

C. America'na (American). 1. Yellow. July.
South America. 1780,

mari'tima (maritime). 1. Yellow. July.

France. 1640.

HARDY HERBACEOUS.

C. ano'mala (anomalous). 1. Yellow. July.
Caucasus. 1820.

a! spent (rough). Greenish yellow. July.

Iberia. 1837.

chlorosta'chys (greenish - yellow spiked.)

Greenish-yellow. July. Persia. 1837.

Gila'nica (Ghilan). Yellow. July. Persia.

1837.

glomera'ta (crowded). 1. Yellow. July.

Iberia. 1824.

pube'scens (downy), 1. Purple. July.

Candia. 1799,

stylo'sa (large- styled). 1. Pink. July.

Persia.

suave'olens (sweet - smelling;. 1. Yellow.

July. Russia. 1838.

CRYPTOCHI'LUS. (From kryptos, hid
den, and cheilos, a lip ; the lip or label-
lum being partly hid by the sepals.
Nat. ord., Orchids [Orchidacefe]. Linn.,
20-Gi/nandria l-Monandri. Allied to
Acanthophippium. )

Stove orchid ; root division ; soil rough fibry
peat and rotten wood.

C. sangui'nca (blood-coloured). 1. Scarlet.
June. Nepaul.

CRYPTOCO'RYNE. (From kryptos, hid-
den, and koryne, a club ; the club-shaped
spadix, or spike, in the centre of the
flower is hidden by the hooded spathe
peculiar to this order. Nat. ord., Arads
[Araceoe]. Linn., 21- Moncecia 2-Dian-
dria. Allied to Arum.)

Stove herbaceous perennial ; divisions, and
seeds when obtainable; loam and peat. Summer
temp. 60 to 80 ; winter 45 to 55, and dry.

May.



C. cilia 'ta (hair-fringed). Green, purple
East Indies. 1824.



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[ 292 ]



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CRYPTOGRA'MMA. A spurious name
for Sir W. Hooker's Parkeria, a fern
published in 1825 in Hooker's Exotic
Flora, page 147. See Parkeria.

CRYPTOME'RIA. Japan Cedar. (From

hidden, and meris, part ; the* j
structure of all the parts of the flower
being hidden, or not easily understood.
Nat. ord., Conifers [Pinacerc]. Linn.,
%1-Mweacia l-Q-Monaddphia. Allied to
Taxodium. )

A splendid evergreen tree, from 60 to 100
feet high ; from the north of China, where it
grows in damp situations. Seeds imported ;
some have ripened in Britain ; cuttings in sandy
soil, under a hand-light ; a pure loam seems to
suit it best.

C. Japo'nica (Japanese). 100. May. Japan.
1844.

na'na (dwarf). North China.

CRYTOPHRA'GMIUM. (From
kryptos, hidden, and phrayma, a
division or partition; the flowers
partly concealed by the leafy-
bracts. Nat. ord., Acanthads
[Acanthaceae]. Linn., 2-Dia.n-
dria \-Monoyynia. Allied to
Justicia.)

Stove evergreen shrub. Cuttings in
April, of young shoots, in sandy loam,
under glass and in bottom heat ; peat
and loam. Summer temp., 60 to 80 ;
winter, 50.

C. venu'stiim (beautiful). 5. September. Pur- !
pie. Bengal.

CRYPTOSTE'GIA. (From /tryptos, hid-
den, and slcyc, a covering : the cup or i
corolla is hidden. Nat. ord., Asclepiads
[Asclepiadacerc]. Linn., 5-Pentrandria
%-Diyynia. Allied to Periploca.)

Climbing stove evergreens. Loam and peat ; '
cuttings root readily in sand, under glass, in
heat.

C. grandifto'ra (large-flowered). 6. Pink. June, i

India. 1818.
Madagascarie'nsis (Madagascar). 10. Pink. \

July. Madagascar. 1826.

CRYPTOSTE'MMA. (From frryptos, hid- '
den, and stcmma, a crown ; the crown '
of the flower hidden. Nat. ord., Com- I
posit.es [Asteracete]. Linn., l^-Sym/e-
nesia S-Frustranea. Allied to Arctotis.) j

Tender annuals from Cape of Good Hope,
requiring to be sown on a gentle hot-bed; when
large enough may be potted two or three
plants in a pot, and protected again in the ;
same way, and planted out in the open border
the beginning of June.

C. calendula'ccum (Marigold-/?ozrfm?\ 1. Ycl- |
low. July. 1752.



C. hypochondri' acum (melancholy). 1. Yellow.

July. 1731.
runcina'ium (s&\\- leaved). 1. Yellow. July.

1794.

CUCKOO FLOWER. Carda'minc pra-
tc'nsis and Ly'chnis floscii'culi.

CUCKOO-SPIT. See Telliyo'nia sp-
ma'ria.

CUCU'LLIA VERBA'SCI. Mullein Moth.
This is the parent of a greenish white
or slaty-coloured caterpillar, found from
the end of May until August feeding
on the various species of mullein ( Vcr-
b(iscum) and figwort (Scrophularia). On
each segment of this caterpillar are
four large black dots, sometimes sepa-
rate, and sometimes running together ;
there are smaller black dots along the
sides, and a double row of yellow spots




on the back, with others on the sides.
The head is yellow, spotted with black.
This moth appears commonly in Ma}'.
It is about two inches across the ex~
panded fore-wings, which are of a dark
reddish-brown colour, clouded and lined
with black, and with a large white spot
on each resembling the figure 3, as
shewn in the annexed drawing. The
hind -wings are also reddish -brown,
but paler, and sometimes almost white.
The female lays her eggs upon the
mulleins, and their relative species of
plants, which eggs are hatched in a
few days if the weather be warm. The
caterpillars when of full growth descend
into the ground at the roots of the
plants on which they have been feeding,
where they form cocoons of half-rotted
leaves and earth, so firmly bound toge-
ther as to resemble small hard clods.
They remain in the pupa slate until
the following May, or even for two
years.



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[ 293 ]



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CO'CUMIS. Cucumber. (From cu-
cuniis, the Latin for cucumber. Nat.
orcl., Cucurbits [Cucurbitacetej. Linn.,
21-Moncecia \0-Monad-elphia.)

Half-hardy trailing annuals. The C. colo-
cynthus produces the Colocynth of medicine ;
the whole of the species require to be sown in
hot-beds, and when of sufficient strength to be
planted out either in frames or under hand-
glasses.

C, Angu'ria (round prickly). 2. Yellow. July.
Jamaica. 1692.

Citru'llus (Citrul). 6. Yellow. June. South

America. 1597.
- Ja't-e (Water Melon). 6. Yellow.

July. 1597.
- Paste 'ca (Pasteque cucumber). 6.

Yellow. July. 1597.

Colocy'nthis (bitter- Colocynth). 6. Yellow.

June. Cape of Good Hope. 1551.

delicio'sus (delicious). 4. Yellow. July.

East Indies. 1818.

Jamaice'nsin (Jamaica). 4. Yellow. July.

Jamaica. 1824.

Maderaspata'nus (Madras). 3. Yellow.

July. East Indies. 1805.

Me'lo (Melon). 4. Yellow. July. 1570.
- Cantalu'pa (Cantalupe). 4. Yellow.

July. 1570.
- Melite'nsis (Maltese). 4. Yellow. July.

1570.
- reticulu'tus (netted). 4. Yellow. July.

1570.

Momo'rdica (Elaterium-like). 4. Yellow.

July. East Indies. 1820.

murica'tus (point-covered). 4. Yellow.

July. East Indies. 1817.

satl'vus (common, cultivated). 4. Yellow.

August. East Indies. 1597.
- u'lbus (white). 4. Yellow. July.
- fastigia't us (peaked). 4. Yellow.

July.



fla'vus (yellow). 4. Yellow. July.
- variega'tus (variegated). 4. Yellow.

July.
- vi'ridis (green). 4. Yellow. July.

East Indies. 1597.
utili'ssimus (most useful). 4. Yellow. July.

East Indies. 1820.

CUCUMBEE. Cu'ctmiis satl'vus.
Varieties.

1. Early short green prickly. Fruit
4 inches long.

2. Early long green prickly. 7 in.

3. Most long green prickly. 9 in.

4. Early green cluster. 6 in.

5. White Dutch prickly. G in.

0. Long smooth green Turkey. 10 in.

7. Large smooth green Roman. 10 in.

8. Flanegaus. 15 in.

9. Russian. 12 in.

10. White Turkey. 15 in.

11. Nepaul. 17 in.

\'i. Fluted (from China). 9 in.
13. The Snake. 12 feet,



14. Brownston hybrid. 15 in.

15. Victory of England. 21 in.

16. Ringleader. 15. in.

17. Pratt's hybrid. 18 in.
.18. Sion House. 9 in.

19. Duncan's Victoria. 28 in.

20. Allen's Victory of Suffolk. 24 in.

21. Victory of Bath. 17 in.

22. Prizefighter. 10 in.

The Early short prickly is often pre-
ferred for the first crop, as being a very
plentiful bearer, quick in coming into
production, and the hardiest of all the
varieties. The Early long prickly is a
hardy, abundantly-bearing variety, but
not quick in coming into production.
It is generally grown for main crops.
The Most long prickly is a hardy good
bearer. There is a white sub-variety.
The Early green cluster is a very early
bearer. It is chiefly characterized by
its fruit growing in clusters. The whole
plant grows compact, and is well suited
for hand-glass crops. The White Dutch
prickly has an agreeable flavour, though
differing from most of the others. It
comes quickly into bearing. The other
varieties are slow in coming into pro-
duction, and are chiefly remarkable for
their great size. The Nepaul often
weighs twelve pounds, being occasion-
ally eight inches in diameter. It is a
native of Calcutta. The Snake cucum-
ber is very small in diameter. Victory
of England is a favourite variety at
Ipswich for early forcing. It is pro-
lific, and the best black spined kind of
that town. Nos. 14, 10, 17, and 18,
have been awarded many prizes. They
are not abundant bearers, but their
fruit is very handsome averaging a
length of sixteen inches, and a dia-
meter of one inch and three quarters.

Standard of Merit. Length, not less
than twelve inches. Diameter, one-
ninth of the length. Colour, dark
green. Spines, black and numerous.
Bloom, unremoved. Circumference, cir-
cular and equal throughout. Neck and
Nose, each not more than a diameter
long. Flesh, crisp and juicy. Flower,
remaining on the fruit.

Soil. A fresh loam, as the top spit
of a pasture, is perhaps as fine a soil
as can be employed for the cucumber.

Culture In Dung Beds. The time



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of sowing the cucumber depends upon
the time when the plants are re-
quired for final ridging out. Three
or four weeks will always be required
for raising the plants to a fitness for
that purpose. The seed-bed should
he made up three and a half feet high
at the back, and from two feet six inches
to three feet high in the front, and on
a dry bottom. The frame should be
put on as soon as the bed is made, and
the seed should not be sown until the
heat of the bed is sweet and healthy,
to which state it may be hastened by
its surface being stirred once or twice
daily and watered, plenty of air also
being given. The best material to put
on the seed-bed to plunge the pots or
pans of seeds in is old tan, or well-
rotted dung, or leaf mould, which may
be run through a very coarse sieve.
With this material the bed may be
covered all over, or any part of it, to
any thickness to suit the purpose in-
tended, and its being sifted makes it
the more pleasant to handle, either for
raising the plants nearer to the glass
or lowering them. The seeds may be
sown either in small pots or in pans,
and the seedlings to be moved from one
to three plants in a pot. If sown in
the pots so as not to need shifting, the
pots may be crocked, and a little better
than half filled with earth, and three
seeds in each covered half an inch
deep. "When the plants are up, they
may be thinned either to one or two in
each pot ; and as the plants advance in
height so the pots may be filled up
with rich light earth, which should be
kept in the frame for the purpose ; also
a small pot of water should be kept in
the frame, for moistening the earth or
sprinkling the plants when required.
The plants should be kept within three
or four inches of the glass. Three or
four sowings may be made (luring
January. It is important to have the
seed-bed in the winter months defended
from piercing winds, by thatched hur-
dles both on the west, north, and east
sides. As soon as the young plants
have formed two rough leaves they
should be stopped.

Fruiting Bed. The materials for
making up either this or the seed-beds



should be thoroughly well worked by
being turned over four or five times,
shaken together well and mixed, and
if dry and husky thoroughly well
watered at the two first turnings, n-
the work goes on. The lumps should
be broken up, and the short mixed
with the long, until the whole mass
has one uniform appearance, and is
nearly half rotten. The size of the
beds depends on the season. In Feb-
ruary, six feet high at the back and
three feet in front ; and if in January,
a foot higher will be required ; and if
March, a foot less will be sufficient. A
dry bottom in all cases, and the mate-
rials well put together, shaken up and
beat down well as the work goes on ;
and the bed should be always six or
eight inches wider than the frame all
round. As soon as completed, put on
the frame and lights. When settled,
and all become sweet and healthy, the
hillocks of earth may be put on for the
young plants to be placed in, but before
the hillocks are made, particularly in
the early season, when the very strong-
beds cause some danger of burning,
some preventive measures must be
adopted. Almost every dung-bed cu-
cumber grower has his favourite way
to prevent this occurrence. Some pave
the bottom of the hillock with six or
eight bricks ; others with a thick
twist of straw or some hay -bands,
over which three or four inches thick
of cowdung are placed of about the
substance of mortar ; others, again,
remove a little of the centres, and
place therein a good thick turf with the
grass side turned downward, and on
this a good thick paste of cowdung.
But the best plan for the bottom of the
| hillocks is that given by Mr. Ellington,,
j in The Cottage Gardener, at page 164 of
' vol. in., by carrying up a cold bottom
j of brick-bats, &c., from the bottom of
! the bed, as the work goes on. Which-
ever method is adopted, the hillock
j must be about a bushel of rich earth
prepared for the purpose, and in a cone
; shape, so as to bring the plants within
| six or seven inches of the glass. Do
j not cover the whole surface of the beds
! with earth at this time ; for, should the
! beds be very strong, it may be neces



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^ary to undermine the hillocks. As
the roots put out round the hillock,
they should be covered with a handful
or two of earth ; and if all goes on well
the hillocks will very soon require to
he extended, and the plants stopped
and pegged down.

Ifand-gtaM Crops. Sow for these
towards the end of March or beginning
of April. The plants to he ridged out
towards the middle or end of April,
under hand-glasses. If the open warm
quarters are to he occupied by this
fruit, trenches one or one and a half
feet deep, should he dug out, by two
and a half feet wide, and ten feet
wide from row to row ; these to be
rilled with good fermenting dung that
has been well worked as for other hot-
beds. The trenches should be filled
six or eight inches above the common
level of the soil before the earth is put
on. Put on the earth in the form of a
ridge until the heat is up, which will
be in the course of three or four da> s,
when it may be levelled down, the
glasses put on, and the plants turned
out under them, and watered with tepid
water. The pots out of which the
plants were turned may remain to tilt
the lights with when a little air is re-
quired ; and when the plants begin to
till the lights two similar pots or half
bricks will be required to stand the
lights upon over the plants, after whicli
they may be trained out by degrees,
and as they begin to extend over the
beds the sides or alleys must be forked j
and well broken up, making a neat j
level surface for the plants to be trained
out upon. The plants will require j
stopping, training, and plenty of water I
in dry hot weather.

Tempered nrc. Air is to be admitted j
every day as freely as contingent cir- j
' i-nmstances will admit, and also at night, |
if the degree of heat and steam threat-
ens to be too powerful. It must never i
be neglected to cover the glasses at {
night, apportioning the covering to the
temperature of the air and bed. The I
heat should not exceed 80 in the hot-
test day, or sink below 05 during the
coldest night. If the heat declines,
coatings of hot dung are to be applied
in succession to the back, front, and j



sides, if that source of heat be employ-
ed. As the mould appears dry, mode-
rate waterings must be given, care being
i taken not to wet the leaves. The best
I time for applying it is between ten and
two of a mild day, the glasses being
closed for an hour or two after perform -
1 ing it. The temperature of the water
must be between (Jo and 80. The
j interior of the glass should be fre-
j quently wiped to prevent the condensed
! steam dropping upon the plants, which
; is very injurious to them.

Hot- Water Beds. Mr. Latter, one of
the most successful of cucumber grow-
ers, employs hot water to heat his beds,
and he gives us these leading points in
Ids culture. He sows in the first week
of September, and the vines from this
sowing will be in bearing and very
I strong before February. The seedlings
| are first shifted into sixty-sized pots,
I secondly into twenty fours, and lastly
into the largest size. If to be trained
on a trellis, the runner must not be
stopped until it has, trained to a stick,
grown through the trellis. The tem-
perature in the pit or frame is kept as
nearly I5o as possible during the night,
and from 7o to 85 during the day ;
air being admitted night and day, little
or much, according to the state' of the
weather. The bottom-heat ( Mr. Latter
is the champion of the hot -water sys-
tem) is kept as near as can be to 70,
although he finds that 85 does not
hurt the plants. He waters them witli
soft water until February, and then
employs liquid-manure, taking care that
the temperature of the liquid is always
from 75 to 80. The earth over the
hot water tank or pipes ought not to
be less than fifteen inches deep. During
severe frosts it is an excellent plan to
keep a small floating light burning
within the frame every night.

Open Ground Crops. The sowing for
these crops must be performed at the
close of May, or early in June. A rich
south-west border, beneath a reed or
other fence, is peculiarly favourable, as



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