A treatise on an improved mode of cultivating the cucumber and melon, so as to produce early melons and cucumbers all the year ...

Front matter

A TREATISE

ON

AN IMPROVED MODE OF CULTIVATING

Preface To The Second Edition

The very rapid sale of the first edition of my work cannot fail to be highly satisfactory to me, thereby proving that the public had confidence in me, and which confidence I trust I have not forfeited, as I therein gave faithfully my practice in the plainest manner possible. I much regret not having given a descriptive plate, but at the time I thought it unnecessary: it will now be added to the Second Edition, and also faithful extracts from my note-book, on forcing Cucumbers from January to February inclusive, which will I trust be found useful as a reference; and I have the satisfaction of knowing that any person that will follow the directions given in my book will succeed with much less trouble than with any other system with which I am acquainted.

GEORGE MILLS.

OBSERVATIONS on forcing Cucumbers last season, from December to February, in my improved pit.

1841. Dec. 21st— Heat in pit this morning at uncovering, 68° ; plants were quite moist ; I used a little too much water last night, but the shortest day was sunny, and the plants got dry in the day ; a little water was given over the back hot-air chamber only, and caused a line steam to rise, which filled

VI

OBSERVATION'S.

the pit ; the heat was 65° — there were 2° frost ; little air could be given ; it was a wind frost ; the linings are up. to the curb in front, and within one foot of it at the back : covering, a single mat only.

Dec. 22nd— 2° frost this morning, rose 4° above zero : still it has been a raw, cold, and dull day ; heat this morning in pit 68° ; the plants were moist and looked well, but little air could be given to pit to-day ; heat did not reach more than 70-'. No water was given to-day, as the plants did not get dry- : a little air is given every night at 6 o'clock, and looked to at 10, and regulated according to the weather.

Dec. 23rd. — Heat this morning 70-. with a little air all night, and a single mat covering ; it appears to be just the heat required to cause fruit to swell at this season ; measured two finite 8^ inches each, and verv handsome.

Dec. 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th.— Heat 68 to 70 at nigh: : covering a single mat ; 'air as usual.

Dec. 28th. — Cut first brace of fruit this day. very handsome.

Dec. 30th. — Dull mild day,heat in pit at uncovering 72- : some of the plants were dry and others moist ; where dry, a little water was given ; they had much air during the day, and a little water was given at 4 o'clock, all over the leaves, and hot-air chambers.

Dec. 31st. — Fine mild dull day ; heat this morning 70 : • got dry, and the flues were watered all round the pit, and it filled it with steam ; plants seem to enjoy it much.

1842. Jan. 1st. — Plants in fine state this morning, heat 70° ; the day was dry and mild ; one inch of air was given, and a little water on the hot-air chambers, or flues, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Jan. 2nd and 3rd. — Cold and frosty, east wind ; heat 68° ; watered round on the flues at 4 o'clock, plenty of steam, and plants looked well.

Jan. 4th. — Heat 64°, mercury 10° below zero ; little sun in the day, and plants got dry ; water was given round the hot-air chambers.

Jan. 5th and 6th. — Heat in pits, at uncovering time 73° each day ; plants in fine state ; a little water given over the hot-air chambers filled the pit with steam ; cold east wind, but little ail 1 could be given ; water was sprinkled over the back hot-air chamber at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Jan. 8th, 9th, and 1.0th. — Three days have been dull, damp and cold ; but little water was used ; once a day, sprinkled on the hot-air chambers ; heat 70° to 74-'.

Jan. 13th. — It has snowed the whole day, heat 68° ; the pit was covered with hay and no water given, and but little air.

Jem. 14th.— Soilless day . heat 71° ; a tittle water was given at 4 o'clock.

Jam,, loth. — Little sunshine, heat this morning 7 5 1} : water at 4 as usual.

Jam. 16th. — Heat this morning 72°. plants m a fine slate, cansed by the little snnshine vesterdav ; a little water at 4 o'clock. *

Jan. 17th. — Heat 7*2° ; plants good ; a little water sprinkled over the hot-air chambers once a day. unless the heat is very strong, is better than more. I wish to see the plants a little moist in the morning, but a lodgement of damp on them is had, which is caosed by want of heat and air ; if short of heat give no Ttater — but it is bad to ce snort of heat for any length of time ; if the flower at the point of the fruit damps off before the fruit is well formed it never makes a good fruit. I attach great importance to night heat, air, and moisture : too much night heat causes the fruit blossoms to open prematurely, and ?uch fruit never swells kindly ; toe iimle heat causes the blossoms to damp off, and then the fruit never swells ; a fitronr; heat in the front lining is a?:od.

Jan. 13th. — The day dull and eold. _ ' : : frost : night and day heat 7*2° ; plants seem to en ; oy it : :: appears to he just ~hat they like : too much water b bad ; if at coverinz-up time the heat is 70° well ; it will increase 3? or 4* before the morning, with a little air at each light and a sitter mat : "raaata. which is all that ?h :ui i be used, unless meat necessity from extreme bad weather ; 74° is a fine heat in the morning when the pits are uncovered.

Jan. 19th — Five days and no sunshine : dark with little frost ; fruit has swelled slowly at the expense of the plants ; I never witnessed slower ^■■■Ifc

Jan. 20th. -21st. and -2*2nd.— Weather dull; young fruit seems to require a little sunshine to start tit eta after at ; ~eraaaj : once started they will swell in dull weather.

J.: -I. Cord. — Sun ?h:ue to-day a fe~ it; tars, ha- the ^aaai was excessively cold : a little extra cc^eraaar. ~as used, aaaa :ut little water rjven : 11' of frost on the morning of the 24th. the coldest night up to this time.

Jan. 24th. — Heat this morning 75P ; great improvement in the plants from the few hours' sun yesterday : the sun has shone out the whole da . , heat up to -? v - to-day : the mercuryhas been eel: — zero the whole day in the shade ; the plants had one inch of air at each light, and a small pot of water was given to each light over plants and hot-air chambers.

Jan a.5th. — There was a fall of sat: - in the rharht : heat in pit at 10 at night was 75° ; a little more air was given ; there was viii

OBSERVATIONS.

4° frost ; the wind blew a gale about two in the morning, and part of the air was taken off ; heat this morning 72° ; a little sunshine to-day, and a little water was given just before covering up.

Jan. 26th and 27th. — Heat each morning 74° ; a little sunshine each day ; a little water sprinkled on the hot-air chambers before covering up.

Jan. 28th. — Heat this morning 80° ; sunny day ; water was given all over the plants ; fruit swelling fast.

Jan. 29th. — Heat 75°, day mild ; one inch of air at each light all day, a little water before covering up.

Jan. 30th and 31st. — Heat each morning 76° ; plants growing fast and swelling their fruit fine ; the season is so changed by the increase of light that there is comparatively little difficulty ; still they require great attention, and with that they will now make good progress.

Feb. 1st. — Heat at uncovering-time 74° ; there is good bottom-heat ; the back linings are one foot below the curb, the front lining up to the curb ; covering a single mat only ; no other covering ought to be required.

Feb. 2nd and 3rd. — Heat each morning at 9 o'clock 75° ; with half an inch Of air all night, calm and mild ; a little water was given each day over plants and hot chambers.

Feb. 4th. — Heat this morning 80° ; it was too much ; 74° would have been better ; a little water was given and air ; it was a calm mild morning.

Feb. 5th and 6th. — Heat each morning 74° ; a little water given each day just before covering up at night.

. Feb. 7th, 8th, and 9th. — Heat each morning 74° ; a little water was given each day just before covering-up time ; front linings up to the curb, back one foot below ; covering a single mat only ; little sunshine ; fruit swells very fast.

Feb. 10th and 11th. — Heat each morning 74° ; a little water was given all over plants and flues at one o'clock each day. i

Feb. 12th, 13th, and to the 21st.— The heat and treatment the same as above ; and as the strength of sun increases the linings are to be lowered, observing always to keep a good bottom-heat.

GEORGE MILLS.

Contents

CHAP. PAGE I. — ON THE CULTURE OF THE CUCUMBER UNDER

HAND-GLASSES 1

II. — ON THE CULTIVATION OF CUCUMBERS ON COM- MON DUNG BEDS WITH ORDINARY FRAMES . 11

Chapter I. On The Culture Of The Cucumber Under Hand- Glasses

The first consideration is to procure seed suited to open air growth, as there are several sorts that will not come to perfection, in ordinary seasons, under hand-glasses. There are other kinds very productive when propagated in this way ; two of which I shall notice on account of having used them myself. These are the Old Southgate and the Gherkin ; the former of which should be sown on the 15th of April, in a hot-bed ; and the latter may be successfully raised under a hand-glass, in a bed prepared in

ON THE CULTURE OF a suitable place in the garden, about the loth of May. Both these cucumbers are cultivated for pickling.

Before the seeds are sown let them be put into a basin of water for about two hours, to test their worth, Those that are good will sink to the bottom ; but the bad and defective seeds will float on the surface. Sow as many of the approved seeds as will supply your wants, one plant to a hand-glass being better than more ; but taking care to have a few plants to spare rather than run short of the number required. Twenty seeds may be sown in a thirty-tw r o size pot, if requisite ; that is, in a pot nine inches in diameter and nine inches deep ; and when the seeds are sown, let the pot be placed in a heat of from 50° to 60° (Fahrenheit) which will be sufficient ; as plants raised in gentle heat will come up stronger, than if grown in a higher temperature, and they will be better fitted for out-door purposes.

The day the seeds are sown, prepare a bed for

THE CUCUMBER UNDER HAND- GLASSES. 8

a hand-glass, which will cover ten plants ; or two beds, if you have twenty plants ; and so on in proportion, according to the number required. These beds are the out-door seed-beds? for the plants to be grown in previous to their removal to the fruiting bed, which is to be prepared for their reception as soon as they are fit for it.

The out- door seed-bed is to be made on the surface of hard ground, commencing with a layer, an inch thick, of half-decayed rich manure ; the layer to extend one inch beyond the hand-glass every way. Over the manure put two inches of good rich soil ; turfy loam well chopped and heath mould, in equal proportions, are the best. When the bed is finished, put on the hand-glass, and keep it close, covering it every night with hay six inches thick, and over all a mat ; as these coverings will retain the heat imparted to the bed during the day by the sun, through the hand-glass. As soon as the seed-leaves of the plants in the hot-bed are expanded, they will be

b2

ON THE CULTURE OF fit to transplant into this bed ; which is to be done by turning the earth and plants together out of the pot, care being taken to retain every root, if possible, without injury.

The bed will take ten plants, set at proportionate distances from each other, so that the hand-glass may cover them properly ; should the soil be deemed too dry, a little water may be given from a fine-rosed watering-pot as soon as planted, although with caution; bearing in mind, that the dependence is on the heat of the sun and covering, there being no bottom heat. Give air freely during sunshine, whereby the plants will grow strong, and become possessed of powerful stems. Should the season be wet, it will be necessary to stir the surface of the soil in the bed between the plants occasionally, and to add a small quantity of dry soil thereto after so doing.

With proper attention, the plants will be fit to stop in about fourteen days after they have been planted out into the seed-bed ; and this

THE CUCUMBER UNDER HAND-GLASSES. 5

is done by taking off the leading shoot one joint above the seed-leaves, which will cause them to break afterwards much stronger than by any other mode of stopping. Should more than one hand-glass be used, the beds must be kept six inches apart to admit of proper drainage.

The fruiting-bed should be prepared in the following manner, and placed in the most sheltered part of the kitchen-garden. Dig a trench about two feet deep, (if the soil be dry, and will admit of your so doing,) three feet wide, and of sufficient length to allow each plant four feet. Let it be filled up well with fermented horse-dung, tan, or leaves, to the height of two feet six inches, and upon this foundation lay about eighteen inches of good soil, such as recommended for the previous bed, (see p. 3). When the mould and glasses have been on a few days, and the bed has become warm, take up the plants from the seed-bed, by forcing the transplanter under the dung, down to the hard ground, and with your hands part the plants from each

ON THE CULTURE OF other, as the mould and the manure, in which they have grown, will be full of roots. Separate each plant with its proportionate quantity of soil, taking care not to injure the roots ; then convey the plants carefully to the fruiting-bed, and plant them singly, as previously recommended, four feet distant from each other. Should the soil be dry give a little w 7 ater, and if the nights are cold, cover with a mat only, till the plants begin to grow ; which they will do rapidly when their roots partake of the warmth of their new habitation, aided by the now increased heat of the sun. Let them be sheltered from the strong winds as much as possible; which I have always carefully done by planting double rows of beans on the south side, and the like of tall peas, on the back of the bed. Having got the plants well planted and sheltered, the next consideration is the giving of air and water ; the management of which must be left to the judgment of the person attending them, as it is not possible to lay down unerring rules

THE CUCUMBER UNDER HAND-GLASSES. 7

for guidance in these particulars — further, than that extremes are to be avoided ; giving a little water and often, and air whenever it is possible to do so.

The cucumber makes great progress in the open air in close calm days, especially when thunder and rain are prevalent ; clearly evidencing thereby that it delights in a moist and warm atmosphere.

Pruning and dressing are matters of the utmost importance to the well-doing of the plants. Stop them, as before directed (see p. 5), at the joint above the seed-leaves. They will generally make, from that method of stopping, three shoots ; one of which is to be stopped again at the second joint, which will cause it to break afresh; thus giving four runners, the number required, to be trained towards the four corners of the hand-glass; which must be raised by degrees as the shoots advance, first a little on the south side, and soon afterwards all round. These shoots are to s

ON THE CULTURE OF be trained outwards, under the corners till they reach within a foot of the outer edge of the bed, and then stopped. After this they will again break, and throw out lateral shoots, which will soon extend, as they should be permitted to do, to the outside of the bed, and will produce fruit in abundance. After a while, however, these laterals will multiply so rapidly, that they must be thinned ; but it is better never to allow them to become thick, from daily attention and constant stopping. This operation ought, invariably, to be performed with the finger and thumb ; because w 7 hen cut with an instrument the wound does not heal, and the lateral generally dies back to the next joint ; which is not the case when the shoots are pruned or stopped by hand*

When the laterals are thinned, three or four should be left on each of the four leading shoots adverted to, and the others should be taken off close to the main stem out of which they grow; you will then have tw r elve or sixteen

THE CUCUMBER UNDER HAND-GLASSES. 9

runners bearing fruit on each plant, of various ages, and producing as many fruit as the plant is able to support. Do not let the plant extend beyond its bounds of four feet, it being necessary that its vigour should be thrown into the fruit, and not wasted in useless vine and unfruitfulness, to say nothing of the quality of the fruit, which can only be fine under proper management.

The Gherkins, or short cucumbers, recommended to be sown on the 15th of May,, are to be treated as those under hand-glasses, except that when they are planted out, no glasses are used to cover them.

The mode of planting the Gherkins is as follows : — As soon as the seed-leaves are expanded, let the plants be set in rows, two feet being allowed between each plant, and four feet between the rows. Care must be taken to keep the plants thin, and, above all, sheltered from strong winds ; and they should be watered slightly, but often, according to the weather,

10 ON THE CULTURE OF THE CUCUMBER, &C,

Should the nights be cold, as frequently happens at this time of year, set a large garden-pot reversed over them ; and do so, likewise, when the sun is very hot in the middle of the day, till the plants are well established .

Chapter II

ON THE CULTIVATION OF CUCUMBERS ON COMMON DUNG BEDS "WITH ORDINARY FRAMES.

The success of cucumbers grown in hot-bed frames, depends greatly on well preparing the dung, before making it into a bed ; for if the dung be not properly prepared, the air of the bed will be impure, which is greatly prejudicial to the growth of so tender an exotic as the cucumber. It is evident that this preparation must take place before the bed is formed, as afterwards it cannot be disturbed ; and unless the manure has been properly prepared, it will, when formed into a bed, ferment to w r hat is termed a burning heat, and it will afterwards become dry and mouldy, to w 7 ithin a few inches of its surface, from which a noxious vapour will arise, to the certain destruction of the plants, in conjunction with the injury they will experience from the excessive heat.

Previous to the horse manure being made into a bed, let it be thrown into a heap : and as soon as the vapour rises, and the whole mass has become well heated, let it be turned, taking care that every portion be well separated and shaken during the operation, otherwise the fermentation will not be regular. When the dung has been turned over and well shaken, the heap must be left till it a^rain becomes hot. which it will do in a few days, when the operation of turning and shaking must be repeated : I have it turned once a week for a period of about eight weeks, before the expiration of which it cannot become quite sweet, especially if fresh when the working of it commenced. I wish this to be particularly attended to. as. in a communication made by me to the Horticultural Society of London. I named six weeks as being sufficient, in my opinion, for the preparation of dung for cucumber beds : but further expe-

ON COMMON DUNG BEDS.

rience has convinced me that the period of eight weeks is better.

Should the dung be taken from old linings which had been previously worked, it will answer the purpose without further preparation, provided it retains sufficient strength to produce fermentation when made into a bed ; otherwise it will not become sweet.

This seed-bed should be three feet high at the back, and two feet six inches in front ; and when the lights are put on, eight or ten days should be allowed for the bed to sweeten before the seeds are sown ; during which time the surface of the bed should be forked over every other day, about a foot deep ; and should it appear dry, as much water should be given as will make it moderately wet. Air must be admitted by raising the lights at the back with a wooden wedge, according to the quantity found necessary to be given, to admit the steam to pass off freely.

In order to prove whether or not the bed be sweet, shut the lights down close for three or four hours ; then take a lighted candle in a lantern push down one of the lights, and put the candle and lantern into the frame, and if the candle continue to burn, the bed will be in a fit state to receive the plants or seed.

As to soil it is well known that cucumbers will grow in any soil, if it be moderately light and rich, and supported by proper heat and moisture, in the summer or spring months : but in winter I have found the purer the soil the better.

In the year 1811, I used the turf or peat obtained from Wanstead Flats, in Essex, which contained a great quantity of white sand. This turf was chopped with a spade moderately small but not sifted : and in this the plants were grown without the admixture of any other soil, The plants thus treated proved as fine as I have ever had them since : and I cut fruit from them, in perfection, in the first week in February. The frames were raised in June to

OX COMMON DUNG BEDS inure the plants to the open air ; and at the end of that month the lights and frames were taken away to cover melons, (which had been propagated under hand-glasses). After this the cucumber plants were trained over the top of the linings, and continued to produce abundantly till October, which is ample proof that the soil was what they liked.

Peat-soil may be objected to as not being sufficiently rich : but when placed on sweet fermenting dung, the roots will help themselves to food when the plants require it. and are swelling off fruit. I have tried numerous experiments with soils, variously mixed, from the year 1811 to the present time ; and I am perfectly satisfied that peat alone is best, and I am now (January. 1841) using it on dung beds.

Peat, however, varies greatly in quality ; and that which I prefer is found lying on a substratum of gravel, and not more than three or four inches thick. It neither requires preparation, nor to be kept before using ; but it may be set to work immediately on obtaining it, which is my method of proceeding. Some may ask why, in 1818, I recommended a mixture of leaf mould with the peat, when, in 1811 I found it answer so well without ? My reply is, that, like many others, I was not satisfied with doing well, but wished to do better ; and I thought that enriching the peat with vegetable mould would improve it. Peat-earth alone has, however, unquestionably obtained the mastery with me over every other soil for the cucumber on dung beds in winter forcing.

Let the seed be proved as before directed, (see p. 2), and then sown, according to the number of plants required, on Michaelmas Day, the 29th of September, if for early fruit. Nine seeds may be sown in a wide-mouthed thirty-two size pot, or one nine inches in diameter, and nine inches deep : and let them be placed round the pot near the outside. The earth should be peat, finely sifted, and a lump of the same soil should be placed at the bottom of the pot for drainage. Let the seeds be covered half an inch, and the whole pressed moderately firm. The pot must then be plunged about half its depth into the dung bed ; and if a little sweet tan has been laid on the surface of the bed for the pots to be plunged in, so much the better. In four or five days the plants "will appear above the earth in the pot, and then, they should have plenty of air during the day, and a little all night : from 60° to 70° of heat will be sufficient, without sun, and during sunshine from 75° to 80°. When the plants are clearly above the earth, let the pot be set on the surface of the bed, as the heat there will then be enough for their roots. A little lining will now be necessary round the bed. Some half-decayed manure, damaged hay, or anything else that will ferment a little, but not too much, should now be supplied, so as to draw a moderate heat round the frame, and it should be raised about two inches above the level of the bed. This lining will be sufficient to dry the plants, and to

IS ON THE CULTURE OF THE CUCUMBER

keep up a sufficient internal temperature to admit of air being given regularly. The plants should remain in the seed pot till their stems are a little hardened , and the third leaf discernible ; after which they will bear potting off singly into fresh pots, which should be fortyeights, which are three inches in diameter and four inches deep : the pots, if not new, must be well washed, or the plants will not turn out properly when they are to be transplanted ; and the earth will adhere to their sides, to the great injury of the roots, Let the soil to be used in transplanting be moderately fine, but not sifted, and put a piece of turf, as before recommended, (see p. 16), at the bottom of each pot for drainage. The seed-leaves of the plants should be a little above the top of the pots, and the earth should be within an inch of the top, in order to allow of a little more being added, so as to cover the roots when they show themselves on the surface.

The best time for potting off is between three and four o'clock in the afternoon ; as after that time the plants are not likely to be exposed to so much light as to cause them to flag. They will do well without air for one night after transplanting. Let the top of the plants, when they are returned to the bed, be within six or eight inches of the glass ; and as they increase in height lower the bed, so as to keep them at all times about the same distance. Water as may seem requisite ; there being little danger, however, of giving too much to peat-earth, as it will only retain a moderate supply.

If the season be dull and wet, a little must be added to the width and height of the lining, so as to keep the heat from 65° to 75° ; when this is the case, the plants can always be dried once in the day, which should be accomplished, if possible ; but a fine moisture is to be desired upon them in the morning, as it is a sign of health. When the third leaf gets perfectly developed, a leading shoot will rise out of its stem, which, as soon as it is clearly formed, should be