io6 Commercial Gardening 



realize from 10s. to 12s. per dozen; but from May to October, when 

 thousands of fruits are sent to the markets every day, the price ranges 

 from Is. to 3s. per dozen fruits, and the grower now considers himself 

 lucky if he can average Is. 6d or 2s. per dozen for his entire crop. 



Varieties. There are many varieties known, but only a few are 

 grown for market work, the favourites being Telegraph and Rochfords 

 Market 



Profits. The profits obtainable from Cucumber growing cannot be 

 estimated with great accuracy in these days, but at one time they were 

 undoubtedly great. Now there is not only enormous competition amongst 

 the growers themselves, but the working expenses in fuel and labour are 

 higher than at any previous period, while the market prices have sunk 

 to a very low point indeed, good fruit sometimes only realizing 9d. per 

 dozen. But that is the case with almost every marketable commodity 

 very low prices are almost as exceptional as very high ones; and it is 

 the average that counts after all. 



Taking a house 200 ft. long and 13 ft. wide, it would be possible to 

 grow 100 Cucumber plants on each side, making 200 altogether. With 

 ordinary care and cultural skill each plant should average a crop of about 

 4 dozen good fruits, making for the whole house 800 dozen. At an 

 average price of Is. Qd. per dozen, this means a gross return of 60 from 

 about T V ac. in about four months, and about one-third or 20 should 

 represent the net profit after paying for labour, fuel, water, &c. So that 

 Cucumber growing, although it has its drawbacks, is nevertheless an 

 important and not altogether unremunerative industry. 



Ridge Cucumbers. Certain kinds of Cucumbers may be grown well 

 in the open air during the summer months, and if grown extensively, as 

 they are in some places, may realize profits ranging from 20 to 80 

 per acre. The seeds are sown in April, and the young plants are in 

 due course put under handlights or bell glasses on ridges made over hot 

 dung. Before the ridges are made, trenches about 3 ft. wide and 1 ft. 

 deep are taken out on a piece of land having a gentle slope to the south 

 if possible. The trenches are then filled with hot manure to a depth 

 of 1 to 2 ft. The manure is covered with about 9 in. of the soil dug out of 

 the trench, and when this is nicely warmed through the young Cucumbers 

 are planted under the glasses. These are retained for protection against 

 cold until the weather becomes genial; and it may be necessary to cover 

 with mats at night if the temperature falls too much. Indeed the system 

 is almost identical with that adopted in French intensive gardens (see 

 p. 203). Copious supplies of water must be given during the growing 

 period, and the leading shoots must be stopped when about 2J to 3 ft. 

 long. The side shoots are also stopped a couple of joints beyond the fruits, 

 and the latter are cut as soon as they are judged to be fit for use. Amongst 

 the best kinds of Ridge Cucumbers are Best of All, 12 to 15 in.; King of 

 the Ridge, 12 to 16 in.; and Stockwood, 9 to 12 in. To these may be added 

 the Gherkin or Short Prickly, grown chiefly for pickling. [j. w.] 



