CUCUMBER 321 



rule fresh horse manure is employed, and a layer about 

 3 inches thick is placed on the beds after the plants have 

 attained a height of several feet. The conservation of 

 soil moisture and special nourishment of the plants are 

 especially important when fruit formation and develop- 

 ment are most active. As pointed out in the previous 

 paragraph, many of the cucumber roots feed near the 

 surface of the ground where they are easily injured by 

 cultivation, and this is an additional reason for reducing 

 the escape of soil moisture by means of mulches rather 

 than by tillage. Very fine crops, however, are often 

 grown without mulching, so that this operation cannot 

 be regarded as absolutely essential to success. 



Temperature. The cucumber requires even more heat 

 than the tomato, as explained on page 285, and it is ex- 

 tremely sensitive to sudden and repeated changes in 

 temperature. Abnormally low temperatures, after the 

 plants are set in the beds, will stunt or check the growth 

 and render the plants more susceptible to the ravages of 

 diseases. 



There is a considerable difference of opinion concern- 

 ing the proper night temperature, but most growers agree 

 that it should not be lower than 65 degrees or higher than 

 70 degrees. Some growers who plant cucumbers for the 

 spring crop in beds of lettuce, compromise in the heat re- 

 quirements of the two crops by maintaining a night 

 temperature of about 60 degrees, which is not ideal for 

 either vegetable. 



On dull, cloudy days the temperature should be only a 

 few degrees higher than at night, otherwise the plant 

 tissues will become succulent and tender and subject to 

 disease, and the plants will be almost certain to wilt 

 when bright sunshine causes a sudden and pronounced 

 rise in the temperature, which cannot be fully controlled 

 by means of ventilation. Ordinarily, the day tempera- 



