32 



OARDEiV VEGETABLES — THE CUCUMBER. 



for Ro\vin<r. Mark o(T the whole j»iecc into Rtrai^dit and riglit-an.c:lcd lines, six 

 feet ajiart, the interseetions of which will show exactly the spot for each hill of 

 plants ; at these crossings, drop a few forksful of manure, and work it in well, 

 80 that it may mix with some nine square feet of the soil, leaving the middle a 

 trifle elevated above the general level ; upon this make a Hat surface ; drop from 

 six to eight seeds, and cover an inch. When the young plants have ])roduccd 

 some thfee " rough" leaves, go over the whole ])lot, pull out all but the three 

 strongest, raise the soil up to those left — so far as the seed leaves — and nip oiit 

 the top above the third rough leaf; this will cause side branches to be sooner 

 emitted, and an earlier production of fruit. It also enhances very much the fruit- 

 fulness and better quality, if a periodical pinching of the ends of the shoots be 

 persevered in throughout the season — say at every sixth or seventh joint •, and, at 

 the same time, those branches which are superfluous, or are not showing fruit in 

 the axils of the leaves, may be rubbed out by the thumb. This will prevent 

 crowding, and give the leaves a free exposure to the light, which will assist the 

 productiveness. Work the hoe often and deeply over the ground before the vines 

 cover it, and so prevent the requirement of much after-weeding. Cucumbers are 

 subject to become bitter if tlie ])lants have not sufficient moisture, which makes it 

 necessary where quality is an object, to give water in dry weather. When this is 

 done, let a good soaking be applied. 



Forcing in the Hothouse. — There is no difficulty in having Cucumbers fresh- 

 gathered from the vine all the year round, but, of course, with a plant which is so 

 soon injured by cold, all, excepting the summer crop, have to be grown under 

 glass, and the necessary heat must be applied artificially. Were a house to be 

 erected for this purpose, a very suitable one would be as represented in the accom- 

 panying cross-section plan, and heated 

 by a flue A, B ; or, still better, hot- 

 water pipes and boiler. Such a house 

 might be ten feet wide by as many feet 

 long as the proprietor might think fit, 

 and it is not for cucumbers alone that 

 this would be useful. Bush-beans, 

 strawberries, and some other things of 

 like character, could be forced, if in- 

 troduced into the same apartment; 

 besides, its suitableness for propagating 

 young flowering plants. There is no 

 real necessity for going to the expense 

 of such an erection where there are 

 other houses in which the more tender exotics are grown, and a night temperature of 

 00° is kept, as a small portion may be used for this purpose, and four or five plants 

 trained up near the glass, will give a supply for a small family the whol^ winter. 



The Cucumber, as it is most commonly grown, is but an annual plant, but it is 

 possible to extend its lifetime, and it may be propagated from seeds, or by layers 

 and cuttings. The first is the readiest method, but if we desire to retain some 

 individual plant of superior excellence, and have not got any seed of the same, it 

 becomes necessary to resort to the other modes of increase. To grow from cvttings, 

 take a short-jointed branch of not more than three or four leaves ; cut off with a 

 sharp knife immediately below a leaf-joint, remove the lower leaf down to the 

 knot, and place the cutting so prepared one inch deep in a four-inch pot filled 

 with sandy vegetable earth. If the operation be performed in hot summer time, 

 remove to a shady and damp place in a frame or other glass convenience ; cover 



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