38 ON THE CULTURE 



As soon as the fruit becomes the size of your 

 finger let no more than one be upon a plant at a 

 time to swell off, and when beginning to grow 

 crooked give the stalk end a twist, place them 

 on their backs, put a peg to the side, and the heat 

 of the bed will soon draw them down and make 

 them straight. 



A cucumber is a plant that requires much 

 water, particularly when bearing fruit : it will be 

 necessary then to give from one to two gallons 

 each time according to the heat of the bed, and 

 temperature of the weather. If the season is 

 fine and the heat good they will require water 

 every other day, but if the weather is dull, and 

 the heat slack, be very cautious in applying the 

 water lest they should get the canker, which is 

 a dangerous disorder, and very difficult to be 

 removed. The best thing in such a case is to give 

 a strong heat, and be very moderate in the 

 application of water. 



After the plants have been ridged out a fort- 

 night it will be necessary to shut them down in 



