Cucumber 



ture has been above the proper point owing to the heat of the bed, 

 wedge up the lights about half an inch when shutting up, and as the 

 season advances increase this supply of night air, for it keeps the 

 plants in health, provided there is no chill accompanying it. As 

 regards the watering, the important point is to employ soft water 

 of the same temperature as the frame, and therefore a spare can, 

 filled with water, should be always kept in the frame ready for use, 

 and when emptied should be filled again and left for the next water- 

 ing. Twice a day at least the plants and the sides of the frame 

 should be well wetted with a shower from the syringe. It is better 

 to syringe three times than twice, but this must be in some degree 

 determined by the temperature. The greater the heat, the more 

 freely should air and water be supplied ; on the other hand, if the 

 heat runs down, give water with caution, or disaster may follow. In 

 case of emergency the plants will go through a bad time without 

 serious damage if kept almost dry, and then it will be prudent to 

 give but little air. Sometimes the heat of the bed runs out before 

 there is sufficient sun heat to keep the plants growing, but if they can 

 be maintained in health for a week or so, hot weather may set in, and 

 all will come right. But to carry Cucumbers through at such a time 

 demands particular care as to watering and air-giving. 



As regards stopping and training, we may as well say at once, 

 that the less of both the better. Free healthy natural growth will 

 result in an abundant production of fruit, and stopping and training 

 will do very little to promote the end in view. But there is some- 

 thing to be done to secure an even growth and the exposure of every 

 leaf to light. When the young plant has made three rough leaves, 

 nip out the point to encourage the production of shoots from the 

 base. When the shoots have made four leaves, nip out the points to 

 promote a further growth of side shoots, and after this there must 

 be no more stopping until there is a show of fruit. The growth 

 should be pegged out to cover the bed in the most regular manner 

 possible, and wherever superfluous shoots appear they must be re- 

 moved. Any crowding will have to be paid for, because crowded 

 shoots are not fruitful. If a great show of fruit appears suddenly, 

 remove a large portion of it, as .over-cropping makes a troublesome 

 glut for a short time, and then there is an end of the business ; but 

 by keeping the crop down to a reasonable limit, the plants will bear 

 freely to the end of the season. Every fruiting shoot should be 

 stopped at two leaves beyond the fruit, and as the crop progresses 

 there must be occasional pruning out of old shoots to make room for 



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