CROPS 73 



closely together as possible, the roots being covered with 

 soil. The plants should be held in place by staking up 

 boards and setting the plants against them. It is a good 

 plan to leave an alley six inches wide every ten to twelve 

 feet, to provide good air drainage. The air surrounding the 

 plants should be kept moist, and if the plants become too 

 dry, water the soil, being careful not to wet the plants more 

 than is necessary. Celery will continue to grow and to 

 blanch in storage if the temperature is kept a few degrees 

 above freezing. 



VIII. CUCUMBERS 



Soil. In the lighter soils, cucumbers will produce 

 earlier, but in the heavier soils the bearing will be heavier 

 and over a longer period. The soil should be thoroughly 

 cultivated before planting the seed. 



Planting. The seed should not be planted until danger 

 of frosts is passed. A plan followed by some growers is 

 to plant early and make successive plantings a week apart; 

 all plants not required are afterwards cut out with a hoe. 



The seeds may be planted in hills or in drills, the distance 

 between hills being four by five to six by six feet. Plants 

 in the drill are thinned to twelve to sixteen inches apart. 



Fertilizer. The soil should be well manured before 

 ploughing, and just previous to the last harrowing before 

 planting, 1000 to 2000 pounds of a high grade, complete 

 fertilizer should be applied. 



The cucumber requires potash and phosphoric acid to 

 insure fruitfulness; a 4-8-10 fertilizer is well adapted to 

 this crop. 



Harvesting. When cucumbers are grown for pickles, 

 the picking should begin as soon as the fruits are of the 



