CUCUMBER 



315 



They may be applied in large amounts without danger of 

 injuring the plants. For example, a well-known Illinois 

 grower sometimes uses 20 pounds of bone meal for a row 

 of cucumbers 100 feet long. 



Fig. 111. Cucumbers and narrow strips for their support. 



Nitrate of soda, employed in small amounts as a top- 

 dressing, may be an advantage. Acid phosphate and 

 potash salts should be used sparingly and cautiously, for 

 the tender roots of the cucumber are easily injured by 

 chemicals. Whatever the kind or character of the fer- 

 tilizer employed, applications seem to be most effective 

 rather late in the development of the crop, after there is 

 more or less exhaustion of the supply of plant food in the 

 soil when the crop was planted. The same principle is 

 involved in the application of manure mulches, page 315 

 which meet the food requirements of the plants when 

 they are most in need of special nourishment. 



Soil preparation. The general directions of Chapters 

 V and VI may be followed in the preparation of soils for 

 the forcing of cucumbers. One of the most important 

 considerations is to see that the bed is well supplied with 

 organic matter. If stable manure has been used in large 

 amounts for lettuce, it may be unnecessary to apply more 

 manure immediately before planting cucumbers, es- 



