Vegetable Growing for Market 105 



un. If the "vines" or stems are trained to wires 1 ft. or 9 in. from 

 he glass, there will be a good cushion of air between the leaves and the 

 glass, and shading need not be put on so early in the season. As soon, 

 however, as there is the slightest danger from burning, the brilliancy of 

 the sun's rays should be softened by spraying some whitening over the 

 glass, on the south side more particularly. If an eggcupful of oil be 

 added to a bucketful of whitening it will make it stick better in case 

 of rain. Starch and flour, well mixed and dissolved in hot water, also 

 make a good shading mixture for glasshouses in summer. 



Cutting 1 and Grading 1 . Cucumbers must be cut down when they are 

 exactly the right size for market, and the grower must exercise his judg- 

 ment as to what that right size is at different times during the season. 

 The first fruits may be cut about eight, ten, or twelve weeks after sow- 

 ing in December, and in about six or eight weeks after sowing in April 

 or May. If the fruits are allowed to hang too long on the plants they 

 are not only a heavy strain on the nourishing sap, which would be better 

 utilized for the development of fresh fruits, but they are also likely to 

 lose somewhat in flavour. When the Cucumber season, therefore, is in 

 full swing, and the plants are fruiting freely, it would be wise to cut 

 every day all the saleable fruits. Beginners are apt to be deceived as 

 to the size of Cucumbers, and may fall into the error of cutting them 

 too small or too thin. To avoid this, a good plan is to feel the fruits 

 before cutting if in doubt. A good saleable Cucumber should fill the 

 hand well, whereas if a fruit is not up to this standard it should be 

 left till next day or the day after. All deformed crooked fruits ("crooks" 

 as they are called) should be cut off as soon as possible and sold for what 

 they will fetch. As cutting proceeds, the fruits should be placed in 

 wooden trays or baskets, previously lined with a little hay or clean 

 litter to avoid bruising. The fruits are then taken to the packing shed, 

 where they are sorted or "graded" into sizes, in accordance with the 

 number of fruits likely to go into a "flat" that is, a shallow basket 

 or box that will hold a certain number of a certain size. It is thus 

 possible for these flats to hold 1J dozen, 2 dozen, 2 dozen, 3 dozen, 

 4 dozen, or 5 dozen fruits, according to the size of the latter. After this 

 the fruits are generally so small that they are sold as "gherkins", for 

 pickling, &c., and at so much per flat. 



Packing. Before actually placing the fruits in the flats or trays a 

 layer of hay, wood wool, or any soft and clean packing material is placed 

 in the bottom, and more packing material is placed between the layers 

 of cucumbers to prevent bruising. The fruits must be packed firmly 

 but carefully to prevent shifting about in transit. Each grade is clearly 

 marked in some way indicating the quantity and quality, either by a 

 special label attached to the handle when the flats are to be sent away, 

 or by different -coloured paper coverings if the grower is taking the 

 cucumbers to market himself for direct sale to his customers. Market 

 prices vary a good deal. Some of the best fruits early in the year may 



