Produced by Chris Curnow and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive.) THEORY AND PRACTICE, APPLIED TO THE CULTIVATION OF THE CUCUMBER, IN THE WINTER SEASON: TO WHICH IS ADDED, A CHAPTER ON MELONS: BY THOMAS MOORE, MEMBER OF THE BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. SECOND EDITION, WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING REMARKS ON HEATING AERATING, AND COVERING FORCING HOUSES; ON TRANSPLANTING, AND THE USE OF TURF POTS; ON WATERING; ON ATMOSPHERIC HUMIDITY, &c., &c. LONDON: RICHARD GROOMBRIDGE AND SONS, 5 PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCXLVII. LONDON: PRINTED BY DAVID M. AIED JAMES ST., COVENT GARDEN. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. This little treatise is intended as an inducement to young Gardeners especially, to seek for the reasons on which the operations of their daily practice are founded, and by which they are regulated. This announcement is here made, 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 experience. As, however, there can be no doubt that there is much to be learned, so is there but little question that there is also much to be unlearned, in the present state of the Science of Horticulture; and these pages are offered without hesitation, as a mite among the accumulating mass of available information on gardening subjects; and in the hope that some amongst those who are seeking to extend their knowledge, may at least be stimulated by their perusal, if they are not otherwise directly benefited. The great truths which it is the object of this treatise to impress, are these: that the ultimate success of gardening operations does not depend on the performance of any part of them, at a particular time, or in a particular or even superior manner, but rather upon the supplying, in a natural manner, as far as possible, _all the conditions_ which are necessary to the nutrition and perpetuation of plants; and, that it is within the open pathway of Science, and not the bye-ways of empiricism, that the finger-post of direction should be sought. Royal Botanic Garden, Regent's Park, March 2nd, 1844. TO THE SECOND EDITION. In the present edition, it has been thought best to preserve the original text exactly as it appeared in the first edition. The new matter will be found in the Appendix. The author may take this opportunity of returning his thanks to those who have noticed and commended the former edition, and of expressing a hope that the present will receive an equal share of favour. Camden Town, Aug. 1, 1847. CONTENTS. CHAP. I. PAGE Botanical name, and affinities of the Cucumber--properties-- foreign names--improvements in cultivation 9 CHAP. II.