VEGETABLES 43 



of nourishment to the plants all through the 

 season. 



Sutton, in speaking of cucumber culture, says : 

 ' In warm sunny days two or three syringes of water 

 will be beneficial, but must not be done so late as 

 to risk the foliage being wet when night comes on. 

 On dull days one good sprinkling over the foliage 

 will suffice, which should be done in the morning ; 

 and there will be occasions when it may be advis- 

 able to avoid touching the leaves with water, if there 

 is no probability of their drying before nightfall ; 

 and in the event of the bed falling below the proper 

 temperature, the water may be a few degrees higher 

 than usual. It is also necessary that the interior 

 of the glass should be frequently wiped to prevent 

 the condensed steam dropping on the plants, which 

 is very injurious to them. Where the plants have 

 not the benefit of currents of air or bees to convey 

 the pollen of the barren plants to the stigma of the 

 fertile ones, the latter must be dusted by the grower, 

 or the plants must be exposed to as much air as 

 possible in the middle of the day when it is warm 

 enough during the time that they are in flower.' 



Cucumbers should be grown as long and as 

 straight as possible. 



Ridge, or Out-of-door Cucumbers. — Sowings 

 must be made at the close of Mayor early in June. 

 It is better to raise the seeds in a cool greenhouse 

 or frame, unless there are hand-lights to put over 

 the seed as soon as sown. A warm border is 

 needed, and they can be grown on level ground if 

 it has been well manured and dug up a good spit 

 deep a few weeks before planting time. The plants 

 require a little protection when first set out by 

 turning a large pot over them for a few hours 



