winter. They will thus be endued
with the "stamina" necessary to sustain them, through that trying period,
and though not without difficulty, yet with comparative certainty, to
reward the well-directed zeal of the cultivator. It is impossible to give
any very minute directions as to the time of performing these operations
of propagation, for like all other gardening operations, it is not at all
requisite that they should be done on any particular day, nor ought they
to be done except when natural conditions are favourable to success: from
ten to twelve weeks generally elapse between the time of sowing the seeds
and the production of fruit, according as the season may be favourable or
otherwise.

The numerous hybrid varieties which are in cultivation, render it a matter
of some importance to make choice of those most suitable to the purpose;
these are however so continually changing, that it is useless to attempt a
record of them. The Sion house Cucumber is perhaps the best of all suited
for cultivation in the winter season. The principal features which are
required in Cucumbers for winter forcing, are, precocity; compactness of
growth, rather than luxuriance; prolificacy, rather than extreme length of
fruit; and hardiness of constitution: these, are to the gardener far more
important points, than those which entitle them to rank as "prize"
varieties.

CHAP. IV.

ON THE TREATMENT OF THE MATURE PLANTS.

From the time that the plants become established, which is the period of
their existence now about to be considered, they require to have the
elements of vegetable growth duly supplied to them, in order to secure
their successful developement. It is not enough to plant them in proper
soil, and duly to water them, unless attention is also paid to the
temperature, as well as the constituents of the atmosphere to which they
are submitted; neither will attention to these latter points be sufficient
to ensure success, if at the same time, the former are neglected. A _soil_
of suitable chemical, as well as mechanical composition, a pure and
wholesome _atmosphere_, _water_ promptly and properly applied, and _heat_
duly regulated, are conditions which equally require minute care and
attention in their adaptation; and these being applied upon the
comprehensive, and perfectly harmonious principles of nature, will leave
but little to be done in the shape of expedients, which are too frequently
resorted to, as the means o