35 



To grow melons under glass on raised benches set the plants one in 

 a place, a foot apart, on the back side of the bench. Remove all the 

 soil from the front part of the bench. Train the vines to a single 

 stem and allow only three melons to set on a vine. Support these 

 three with netting of some kind, cloth or wire, and you will probably 

 get the most perfect fruit you ever saw or tasted. 



A crop of melons may be started in a bed, and when the vines begin 

 to cover the ground the sashes removed and the vines allowed their 

 own way. This crop is usually prolific, and will average more than 

 five melons to the hill. 



Another way of handling the crop is to start the plants in a hotbed 

 or greenhouse and transplant to pots, setting the plants in the field 

 after the first of June. By this method we have no trouble with bugs 

 or beetles and very much better results in the way of yield. This 

 system is adapted to market gardens, as the land can be used for an 

 early crop of spring radish or lettuce, and then be available for the 

 melons. 



As the melons are nearing maturit.y out of doors it will be found 

 profitable to set them up on shingles, glass or berry baskets to protect 

 them from wire worms and from spotting. The richer and damper 

 the soil the more danger there is of loss from spotting. 



Cucumbers. 



Cucumbers are a greenhouse crop. They are raised under glass 

 in beds or greenhouses almost exclusively when raised at a profit. 

 Of course many cucumbers are raised out of doors, but the season 

 of fruiting is much shorter and the crop lighter per plant than when 

 grown in a greenhouse. The greenhouse crops may be started at any 

 time of year. The crop most productive of large returns will be one 

 that is beginning to- fruit in April or May. This crop will continue 

 in fruit until August if carefully handled and protected from green 

 fly and red spider. 



There are two particular ways of training the greenhouse crop, 

 called the string system and the trellis system. The plants for either 

 system are raised the same way. The seed is sown thickly in a bed 

 over a mild heat. As soon as the seed leaves are open the young 

 plants are set over into a seed bed, about 2 inches apart each waJ^ In 

 a few days, three to seven, they should be set over in 5|-inch pots, one 

 plant in each pot. The pots should be plunged level with the ground 

 in a greenhouse, and set over mild heat in March, but need no heat 

 if set in April. If set in a bed or frame they will need some bottom 

 heat. It is best to water with water as hot as the hand can bear when 

 transplanting seedlings to the bed or pots. It is best to let the pots 

 go dry a few days before transplanting to the permanent row. This 

 will toughen the plants, and none will be lost by breakage in handling, 

 as they would if grown soft. Just before removing from the pots 

 soak each thoroughly with the hose, or by dipping in a tub of water. 



