THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



Fertilizing should be done before the plants are 

 sown or set. Nitrate of soda or liquid manure applied 

 late will make them run to vine, but may be applied 

 frequently in small quantities to the pickle crop. 



Pick any early single fruit, to force a numerous 

 growth. Pick all fruits when of proper size, even if not 

 needed, or the plant will cease to bear. 



Forcing Cucumbers is very extensively practiced, 

 under conditions favorable to melons or squashes. 



Diseases. For downy mildew spray with Bordeaux, 

 one to eight strength, "early, constantly, and thor- 

 oughly" (New York Bulletin No. 119) if necessary 

 twice a week, to keep the leaves well covered with the 

 mixture, especially in humid weather. For blight or 

 leaf- blight, rotation. For anthracnose, rotation ; burn 

 diseased vines. For wilt, Bordeaux and rotation. See 

 Farmers' Bulletin No. 231. 



Pests. Chief is the striped beetle, for which sow 

 four days before the Cucumber trap-crops of squash, 

 which the beetle prefers. When the Cucumber plants 

 appear, cover with netting or in some other manner, or 

 preferably spray with Bordeaux, one to eleven; "spray 

 again at the third leaf, and at the third time just 

 before the plants begin to form runners.*" "When the 

 [squash] trap plants are up, and the beetles appeal- 

 about them, dust about half the plants with green arse- 

 nite, reserving the other half if rain or heavy dew 

 makes the poison soluble and kills the plants first 



