20 The Bulletin. 



to be transplanted to the open field. The seeds should be planted 

 2 feet apart through the continuous frame. They are allowed to grow 

 with the protection of cover till the weather is favorable, when the sash 

 or cloth and frames are removed and the vines given the entire area. 

 Frames in which winter lettuce has been grown can be used to advan- 

 tage for an early crop of "cukes.'' When early cucumbers are grown 

 in this way the soil in the frames should be as fertile as well-rotted 

 stable manure and high-grade commercial fertilizer can well make it. 

 The soil in the frames will absorb heat and warm up better if made dark 

 by use of muck soil and stable manure. 



When picked for market, cucumbers should be from 6 to 8 inches 

 long. All crooked or deformed ones should be discarded. For pick- 

 ling they are gathered when 2i/2 to 5 inches long. The field should be 

 gone over two or three times a week and all "cukes" that are large 

 enough removed; for a ripening cucumber, though it is a cull, takes a 

 great amount of vitality that would otherwise go to growing younger 

 fruit. 



Most of the cucumbers grown for market are of the White Spine 

 family. There are several varieties of this group listed by various 

 seedmen, but they are all more or less alike. 



EGGPLANT. 



Because of their similarity and close relationship, eggplants require 

 much the same treatment as do tomatoes. The essential points in the 

 culture of eggplant are a long growing season, abundant available fer- 

 tility, one or two transplantings to obtain vigorous, stocky plants, and 

 frequent cultivation. These necessary cultural requirements are best 

 met in the South, where natural environments offer every inducement 

 to the commercial growing of eggplants. 



Eggplant does best in warm, loose, and well-drained soils. It is not 

 adapted to heavy clay lands. Plants are started under glass, in hotbeds 

 or cold frames, and they should be 6 or 8 inches high, of thrifty, stocky 

 growth, when set in the field. Do not transplant until all danger of 

 frost is past and conditions are favorable for making a continuous 

 growth. Any check in growth that the plant receives from the germi- 

 nation of the seed to the setting of the fruit will result in a much 

 lessened crop. Eggplants are set in rows that are far enough apart to 

 admit of easy cultivation, usually 31/2 to 4 feet. In the rows the plants 

 are set from 2 to 4 feet. An ounce of seed will give about 2,000 plants. 



To secure abundant yields of fine fruit, heavy fertilizing is needed. 

 Land that has been heavily manured and well cultivated for two or three 

 years is in good condition for this crop. In addition to this, use about 

 1,500 pounds per acre of a fertilizer containing 4 per cent nitrogen, 

 9 per cent actual potash, and 6 per cent available phosphoric acid. 

 Apply broadcast, previous to setting plants, and work well into the 

 soil. Cultivate the same as for tomatoes, bearing in mind the necessity 



