EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 337 



fore it has time to germinate. By using the drag the marlis of the 

 seeder are destroyed. In no case should the seed be planted until the 

 surface of the soil is thoroughly pulverized and leveled. This will give 

 a more even depth of the seed in the soil and a more uniform stand of 

 plants." 



Cultivation. ^'Begin cultivation just as soon as the plant makes its 

 appearance above the surface of the soil. Use a hoe or garden rake to 

 break the crust immediately around the plant and to keep the rows free 

 from weeds. Cultivate at least once each week until the vines cover the 

 space between the rows. The first cultivation may be to a depth of from 

 three to four inches, but after the first week, the soil should not be 

 cultivated to a depth exceeding one and one-half to two inches. Culti- 

 vate often enough to keep a dust mulch on the top of the soil and in all 

 cases, cultivate as soon after a rain as the ground is dry enough to work. 

 Bear in mind that frequent cultivation is essential to the conservation 

 of the moisture, which all growing plants must have." 



Thinning. '*Too much attention cannot be given to the importance of 

 thinning plants so that when they reach their maturity the vines will 

 not be crowded or matted. If too many plants are left standing, they 

 will be weak and lack the vitality necessary to produce a large yield 

 or a good quality of pickles. One strong, vigorous plant can produce 

 more pickles and better pickles than three or four weak plants. A 

 straight, well formed pickle can only be grown on a strong healthy plant. 

 It is impossible to pick a field of rank, matted vines as well or as quickly 

 as one on which the vines are thinner. Where possible, two thinnings 

 should be made. The first when the plants have reached a height of 

 from four to five inches and just after the third leaf has unfolded. The 

 thinning should be done with a hoe or knife and the weaker plants cut 

 out, leaving one healthy plant standing about every twelve inches in the 

 row. The second thinning should be made in the same way just after 

 the plants fall over and begin to run and before the runners have reached 

 a length not exceeding twelve inches, leaving one plant every twenty- 

 four inches in a row. On muck soils, which are excessively rich in nitro- 

 gen, only one health}' stalk should be left every three feet in the 

 row." 



Picking. Usually cucumbers are planted about June 1st, and pick- 

 ing will begin the latter part of July or the first of August, depending 

 upon the thriftiness of the vines. The first two or three pickings will 

 liardly pay for the gathering but it is very necessary to remove them 

 for the good of the vines. The fewer the cucumbers that are allowed 

 to become full grown, the better will the vines bear. Very few growers 

 realize what a bad efl'ect it has upon vines to allow the cucumbers to 

 become overgrown or the injury that may be done in careless picking, 

 which rcvsults in tearing and breaking the vines. In average growing 

 weather, 48 hours may intervene between pickings and later in the sea- 

 sou, 72 hours may not be too long. This is assuming that the vines are 

 picked reasonably clean at each picking. It is impossible to find and re- 

 move every cucumber at any one time but that should be the aim. Large 

 cucumbers in which seeds are forming reduce the vitality of the vines 

 and a plant that has produced seeds becomes inactive and soon ceases to 

 43 



