318 VEGETABLE FORCING 



under the trellis varies from 8 to 15 feet, and it is prob- 

 able that nothing is gained by allowing more than 9 or 10 

 feet. It is unnecessary to allow more than a narrow walk 

 between the rows outside of the trellises, though this will 

 depend largely on the type of house construction and the 

 width and arrangement of the beds. 



The English class of cucumbers, and the crosses be- 

 tween the English and American types, are often trained 

 upright with the trellis overhead, as illustrated in Figs. 

 114 and 115, which show the Abundance growing in a 

 house at Irondequoit, N. Y. The plants in this house are 



4 by 5 feet apart. Other plantings have done well at 3 by 



5 feet and 4 by 4 feet apart. 



Planting. The time of planting in the beds will de- 

 pend on the age and size of the plants and whether space 

 is available. Poor markets or unfavorable conditions of 

 the weather make it impossible sometimes to harvest the 

 lettuce or other crops that precede the cucumbers as early 

 as had been anticipated, when it may be necessary to hold 

 the cucumbers longer than is good for the plants. The 

 roots should not become pot-bound, nor should the plants 

 become so large before they are transplanted that it is 

 difficult to handle them without injuring the stems or 

 leaves. It is best to set them in the beds before they are 

 a foot high. The plants are generally placed in the beds 

 before April 1, though it is not uncommon for planting 

 to continue until May 1. 



Great care should be exercised, in transplanting, not to 

 break the balls of earth. The soil should be pressed 

 closely and firmly about the roots, and the beds watered 

 as soon as possible. 



Watering. The moisture conditions of both the soil 

 and the atmosphere of the house demand the closest 

 attention for the forcing of cucumbers. The large, succu- 

 lent leaves, stems and fruits require a large amount of 

 water, and any marked deficiency in humidity or soil 



