Cucumbers 41 



When cucumbers are started in the dirt bands 

 and grow too large while it is yet too cold to transplant, 

 check the growth by loosening the dirt a bit in the 

 bands. This can be done by shaking them so that 

 the roots will be somewhat loosened. Do not 

 loosen the earth too much or the roots will not 

 survive. 



There is a small beetle which frequently attacks 

 the cucumber at the lower part of the stem and the 

 under side of the leaves. A piece of mosquito 

 netting placed over the plants, held down at the 

 corners by dirt, will keep these pests off, and yet 

 the vines will not be injured. 



Cucumbers should receive shallow cultivation, to a 

 depth of about two inches, until the vines begin 

 to run freely. After that very little cultivation 

 is necessary except to pull out the weeds as they 

 appear. 



Cucumbers need frequent picking. They should 

 not be permitted to mature seed until all that 

 are desired have been picked. When once per- 

 mitted to mature seed no more new cukes will be 

 produced 



