478 VILLA GARDENING part v 



demand. To have Cucumbers in winter, the seeds or cuttings 

 shoidd be planted early in September, and taken on steadily ; but 

 if we do not require to cut, say, before Easter, we need not begin 

 before December. The treatment of 



Winter Cucumbers is somewhat different from that required 

 by summer Cucumbers, and more care and skill are requisite to 

 bring them to a successful issue. When the plants are intended 

 for winter bearing — to begin, say, in November or earlier — they 

 should be taken on steadily without any stopping till the end of 

 the rafter or the top of the trellis is reached, when the leader is 

 pinched out. Tliis extension without stopping adds much to the 

 strength of the plants, and the reserve force is of great value before 

 the winter is out. As much of the pruning as is possible should 

 be done witli the finger and thumb, and the knife used only to cut 

 the fruits. Something may be done to keep the growth thin by 

 rubbing off those buds not required to form shoots. Other shoots 

 should have the centre bud nipped out as soon as the fruit is 

 shown. Thin training should be followed out, and only a limited 

 number of fruit left on the plants in the short days of winter. 



Temperature. — The bottom -heat should range from 70° to 

 75°, but should not exceed the last-named figm-e. The night 

 temperatm'e of the house should be about 65°. A few degrees 

 higher in mild weather and a few lower when sharp frost sets in 

 will do no harm. The day temperature may vary from 70° in the 

 morning to 85° or 90° or more in the afternoon when the house is 

 satm-ated with water. The questions of ventilation and moisture 

 are very closely linked together. It is certain that no house is 

 altogether air-tight, and that very often Cucumbers get more air 

 than they need if the Avater supply is abundant. To forward the 

 crop rapidly — -Cucumbers should be grown quickly — keep the 

 house close and use plenty of moisture. Shade will not be neces- 

 sary in winter, nor much in summer, if the condition as to moisture 

 is suitable. Not only must the border be kept moist, but the 

 atmosphere of the house must be charged with moisture also, and, 

 with a house full of vapour, the leaves will not scorch or burn. 

 In private gardens Cucumber-houses are usually small, but of late 

 years very large houses have been built by market gardeners. 

 Near large towns, where stable manure is plentiful, the bottom- 

 heat is frequently supplied from that source. Small houses are, 

 except in one particular, a disadvantage The plants in them are 

 more subject to insect attacks, there is greater difficulty in keeping 

 the atmospheric moistm-e at the right point, and the ventilation is 

 consequently more difficult to manage. In small low houses fruit 

 may be cut a little earlier at a less cost for fuel ; but in large 



