CULTIVATION OP THE CUCUMBER IN THE OPEN AIR. 509 



stopped, but be allowed to grow until it reaches the top of the house. 

 " On this, success in pot-culture mainly depends, for if the plants are 

 stopped, they are thrown into a bearing state before they are suffi- 

 ciently established, and the consequence is early fruit, but a short- 

 lived plant ; but if the plants are allowed to grow to the length of ti-n 

 or fifteen feet before the leading shoot is stopped, a great quantity of 

 true sap will be generated, and the plant will consequently be better 

 able to support a crop than if it had been allowed to bear fruit before 

 it was properly established." The temperature which Mr. Ayres 

 approves of is 60 through the night, 65 in dull, and 70 in clear 

 weather, by fire heat ; and 80, 90, or even 100 with plenty of atmo- 

 spheric moisture and air in sunny weather. The two shoots from the 

 two plants in each pot are to bs trained to the trellis at one foot nine 

 inches apart; and when they begin to send out laterals these must be 

 stopped at one joint above the fruit. Impregnation or setting the 

 fruit, Mr. Ayres believes, does neither good nor harm, for he has cut 

 scores of fruit, the flowers of which never expanded. If the fruit grows 

 crooked, he places it in glass tubes or narrow troughs, which mould 

 it into the proper form ; or he suspends a small weight by a piece of 

 bast to the end of each fruit, a practice which appears to have been 

 first adopted by Mr. Robert Fish. 



Culture and Treatment of the Cucumber for Prize Exhibitions. 



Choose the best-formed longest varieties, such as Dale's Con- 

 queror, Hamilton's Invincible, and Blue Gown. The plants must 

 not be allowed to set fruit till they have attained considerable 

 strength. The fruit is put into cylinders of glass or tin to protect 

 the prickles and bloom. Every means is employed to encourage 

 vigorous growth, and rather a higher temperature is maintained than 

 in ordinary culture. " In the event of fruit being ready to cut 

 before the time wanted, they should be divided three parts across their 

 foot-stalk, and secured to the trellis to prevent falling. By this means 

 they will keep fresh and stationary several days, much better than by 

 cutting or entirely separating them from the plant. If necessary to 

 carry or send them to a distance, they should be packed nicely in a 

 box made for the purpose, in the largest nettle-leaves that can be got, 

 or in cucumber-leaves, but by no means in smooth leaves, which are 

 certain to rub off the bloom. They may then be folded in tissue- 

 paper, and wrapped in wadding, and placed in narrow boxes of well- 

 thrashed moss. By these means the spines, powdery bloom, and 

 partially withered blossom at the end of the fruit are preserved, without 

 which no cucumber can be considered handsome, or well grown. In 

 being exhibited they should be put in dishes in pairs or leashes, on a 

 little clean moss, or on vine-leaves, and the brace or leash should 

 always be of the same sort, and if possible of the same length. 



Cultivation of the Cucumber in the Open Air. 



Cucumbers grown in the open air are commonly protected by hand 

 or bell-glasses. The seeds are sown some time about the middle of 



