FORCING CUCUMBERS. Ill 



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

 sifter 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 ; and afterwards continue 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 

 Abercroinbie, 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 ope- 

 ration. 



" The Cucumber," Abercrombie observes, " bears male 

 and female blossoms distinctly on the same plant. The 

 latter only produce the fruit, which appears first in minia- 

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

 There is never any in the males ; but these are placed in 

 the vicinity of the females, and are absolutely necessary, 

 by the dispersion of their farina, to impregnate the female 

 blossom ; the fruit of which will not otherwise swell to its 

 full size, and the seeds will be abortive. The early plants 

 under glass, not having the full current of nutural 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 impregnation. 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 Mossom, detaching it with part of the footstalk. 

 Hold this between the finger and thumb ; pull away th* 

 flower leaves, or petals, close to the stamens and antherse, 

 or central part, which apply close to the pistil in the bosom 

 of the female flower, twirling it a little about, to discharge 

 thereon some particles of the fertilizing powder. Proceed 

 thus to set every fruit, as the flowers of both sorts open, 

 while of a lively full expansion ; and generally perform it 

 in the early part of the day, using a fresh male, if possible, 

 for every impregnation, as the males are usually soore 





