A Treatise on the artificial growth of Cucumbers and Melons, conjointly with that of asparagus, mushrooms, rhubarb, etc., to which are added brief observations on the growth of early potatoes

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Page 3 - And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, "Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.
Page 53 - ... copiously with a cool juice which renders them still more grateful. To these important qualities they in many cases add the merit of bearing abundant crops of fruit, the appearance of which is always extremely beautiful. But, on the other hand, their cultivation is attended with peculiar difficulties. They are found to require a very high temperature, a dry atmosphere, and an extremely humid soil, while they are at the same time impatient of an undue supply of moisture, which causes spotting...
Page 53 - ... decay long before the fruit is matured. It is not, therefore, easy to maintain that necessary balance of heat and moisture which in Persia arises out of the very nature of the climate and mode of cultivation. In that country, we are told, that the melon is grown in open fields, intersected in every direction by small streams, between which lie elevated beds richly manured with pigeons
Page 4 - ... extracted or properly guarded against, that is to say, not suffered to come in contact with them, there is no heat so congenial to its constitution ; nor is there within the Hortus Brittanicus, a plant which under a continuance of good treatment repays more gratefully all favors.
Page 7 - ... Knight recommended it. Platforms, supported by posts or brick piers, were tried for several years ; and of this kind of bed Mr. Smith observes, " although the best cucumbers which ever came under my notice were produced in it, and balsams 16 ft. in circumference, yet, for want of a proper substance against which to build the linings, and the almost entire destitution of means to supply heat by absorption and conduction, experience has taught me that the principle cannot with safety be depended...

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