488 



HORTICULTURE, 



April 13, 1907 



Cucumbers Under Glass 



PRUNING 



The object of pruning is to limit the growth of the 

 .plant in certain directi.ons. and concentrate the produc- 

 tion of fruit in cortaiu axils, and since cucumbers are 

 quite constant in tlieir habit of setting fruit, advantage 

 can be taken of this fact, Fruit is generally to be 

 found in every seventh axil on the main stem and every 



first axil of the lat- 

 erals. In pruning, 

 in general it is best 

 to cut every lateral 

 at the second leaf, 

 which has a tenden- 

 cy to concentrate a 

 certain amount of 

 energy in the first 

 axil and will induce 

 another (lateral ter- 

 tiary shoot), to start 

 at the point of cut- 

 ting. This new lateral 

 will in turn sot fruit 

 in its first axil, and 

 when this forms two 

 leaves it can likewise 

 be pruned 

 > like the 

 others. This 

 method of 

 J pruning 

 causes the 

 forma t i o n 

 of a series 

 of laterals 

 which set 

 fruit in 

 first axils, 

 the two-stem 

 system of training 

 cucumbers is to be 

 followed it is neces- 

 sary to prune the 

 seedlings about the 

 time ,the first leaf is 

 done just above the 

 shoot to start there, 



their 

 If 



Sinsle Stem S.vstciu.. 



Ajrmed. The pruning should 1)C 

 first leaf, ^ifhich will cause a new 

 and induce another shoot to start in the axil of the 

 cotyledons, but the majority of cucumber growers make 

 'use of a single stem. 



GROWTH OF YOTTNG PLANTS 



Cucumber seeds may bo sown in flats containing 

 earth of a loose texture, or in special houses adapted to 

 Ihe growth of seedlings. It is not advisable to force 

 seedlings too rapidly, since they are likely to "dam]) 

 iifF." "Damping off" is a .seedling disease peculiar to the 

 cotyledon stage, and cucumbers are usually immune to 

 this after they have formed one or two leaves. When 

 these are formed, th.^ plants should be carefully trans- 

 planted into pots or directly into permanent beds, if 

 necessary. MoTe'eare should be taken in transplanting 

 cucumbers tlian lettuce, since a lettuce seedling will re- 

 vive when transplanted, even though there is no soil on 

 Ihe roots, whereas it is advisable to disturb the soil 



around the roots of a cucundjer plant as little as 

 possible. 



TK'NrrTmATURE 



The normal temperature for cucumbers is about 65 

 degrees at night and 85 or more during the day. Tem- 

 perature requirements vary with the condition of the 

 weather, as a higher temperature can be maintained in 

 sunshiny than in cloudy weather. During a series of 

 cloudy days it is well to keep both the day and night 

 tf'inperatures down. This is more necessary when 

 cucumber? are gi'own in poorly lighted houses than in 

 veil lighted ones, since light is pre-eminently a factor 

 Mliich produces texture in plants. Cane must also be 

 exercised against too high soil temperatures, since cer- 

 tain trotibles result from them. 



WATERING AND VENTILATION 



Ventilation requires the most careful attention, since 

 the presence of a certain amount of fresh air renders 

 the plants more hardy and prevents infection from mil- 

 dews, etc. There are probal)ly no features connected 

 with the care of plants which offer more examples of 

 carelessness on the part of gardeners than watering. 

 Over-watering of cucumber vines is easily accomplished, 

 especially during cloudy weather, when evaporation 

 from the soil and transpiration is slight, and in such 

 cases the soil is likely to become soaked and remain in 

 this condition too long for the welfare of the. plants. 

 On bright, sunny days, when transpiration and evapora- 

 tion are active, it is necessary to apply more water. Too 

 much moisture in the air is conducive to fungous infec- 

 tion, and tliis is especially true in. regard to the various 

 mildews. 



DISEASES 



The diseases of crops under glass are so clearly de- 

 pendent u])on conditions, such as light, moisture, and 

 heat tliat it is always necessary to consider them in con- 





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Two Stem System. 



nection with the general management of the house; in 

 fact,- there is no detail of greenhouse management which 

 does not, in one way or another, influence crop produc- 

 tion and bear upon susceptibility to disease. 



