FORCING CUCUMBERS. 123 



season of hot sunny weather. Some use water impregnated 

 with sheep or pigeon dung. As the roots begin to spread, 

 and the vines to run, the hills should be enlarged by gather- 

 ing up the earth around them, for which purpose a supply 

 of good mould should be kept ready at hand, to be used as 

 required. 



When the plants have made one or two joints, stop them, 

 by pinching off the tops, after which they generally put forth 

 two shoots, each of which let run till they have made one or 

 two clear joints, and then stop them also ; and afterward con- 

 tinue throughout the season to stop them at every joint; this 

 will strengthen the plants, and promote their perfecting the 

 fruit early. 



The following artificial operation is recommended by 

 Abercrombie, Phial, and other writers, as essential to the 

 production of a full crop of Cucumbers under glass. In 

 plants more freely exposed to the open air, the impregnation 

 is effected by nature. Those which some call false blossoms 

 are the male flowers, and are indispensable in this operation. 



" The Cucumber," Abercrombie observes, " bears male 

 and female blossoms distinctly on the same plant. The lat- 

 ter only produce the fruit, which appears first in miniature, 

 close under the base, even before the flower expands. There 

 is never any in the males ; but these are placed in the vici- 

 nity of the females, and are absolutely necessary, by the dis- 

 persion of their farina, to impregnate the female blossom ; 

 the fruit of which will not otherwise swell to its full size, 

 and the seed will be abortive. The early plants under glass, 

 not having the full current of natural air, nor the assistance 

 of bees and other winged insects to convey the farina, the 

 artificial aid of the cultivator is necessary to effect the im- 

 pregnation. At the time of fructification, watch the plants 

 daily; and as soon as the female flowers and some male 

 blossoms are fully expanded, proceed to set the fruit the 

 same day, or next morning at farthest. Take off a male 

 blossom, detaching it with part of the footstalk. Hold this 



