CULTURE OF THE CUCUMBER. 



495 



at Knowlesley, and recently adopted in common frames and pits by Mr. 

 Weedon. To concentrate the vigour of the plant, the shoots are stopped 

 repeatedly as they advance in growth, by pinching out the growing point 

 with the finger and thumb. Shoots bearing fruit are generally stopped at 

 the second joint beyond the fruit, as soon as its blossom has begun to fade, 

 in order to throw more of the sap into the fruit. Cucumbers require a 

 great deal of ventilation, and the best growers make it a point to have the 

 foliage thoroughly moist during every night, and thoroughly dry during 

 a portion of every day, during the whole of the plant's existence. The 

 cucumber will live either in the open air or under glass, at a temperature of 

 50, and it will grow and produce fruit at 60, but not vigorously and abund- 

 antly at a lower temperature than between 75 and 80 and with this the 

 bottom-heat should correspond. With abundance of light, air, and fre- 

 quent watering, it will grow vigorously in an atmosphere of from 85 to 

 90, saturated with moisture for at least a portion of every 24 hours. The 

 foliage of the plants ought always to be kept within a few inches of the 

 glass ; and in the winter season all the light ought to be admitted that the 

 state of the atmosphere admits of, and especially the morning sun. For this 

 reason the glass over cucumbers, (and melons also,) should never be covered 

 till it is nearly dark, and always be uncovered at daybreak. The cucumber 

 requires an ample supply of water, which should be pond or rain water, 

 and always of the same temperature as the soil in which the plants grow ; 

 or a degree or two under it, as falling rain is generally a degree or two 

 lower than the temperature of the atmosphere through which it falls. 

 Liquid manure may be advantageously used when the soil is poor, or when 

 it is limited in quantity, as in the case of cucumbers grown in pots. As the 

 cucumber, like the melon, has the stamens and pistils in different flowers, 

 artificial fecundation is by most gardeners considered necessary, or at least 

 conducive to the swelling of the fruit ; but by others, and among these some of 

 the best cultivators, it is considered of no use, excepting when seed is required. 

 Many persons prefer cucumbers which have not been fecundated, on account 

 of the much smaller size of the seed integuments, which never contain ker- 

 nels; though, on the other hand, some prefer fecundated cucumbers, alleging 

 that the kernels of the seeds communicate a superior flavour. It is found 

 that seed is produced most freely from plants grown in rather poor soil, 

 and in the open air against a wall, rather than under glass. Hence the 

 greater quantity of seeds found in cucumbers grown on dung-ridges in the 

 open air, and the much greater quantity found in cucumbers grown in the 

 sandy soil of Sandy in Bedfordshire, and sent to the London market for 

 pickling and stewing, than in cucumbers grown in houses. Without abun- 

 dance of seeds, cucumbers for pickling or stewing would be good for nothing. 

 Cucumbers grown for seed are of course always allowed to attain maturity, in 

 which state they are of a yellow colour. The seed is taken out, washed and 

 dried, and preserved for use, and it is generally considered that, for early crops, 

 seeds which are several years old produce plants less likely to run to foliage, 

 and consequently more prolific in blossoms. Some of the best modern 

 cultivators, however, think the age of the seed of no consequence ; and some 

 preserve it in the fruit till it is wanted for sowing. The cucumber is liable 

 to the same insects and diseases as the melon, which are to be subdued by 

 the same means. Want of sufficient bottom heat, and watering with cold 

 hard water, are the general causes which produce the mildew, canker, and 



K K 2 



