VEGETABLES 45 



become sickly and the fruits die off. For this 

 there is no cure, and the only thing to do is to pull 

 all the plants down and burn them, take away all 

 the old soil, and clean the house out and start 

 afresh with fresh soil and new healthy plants. 

 When cucumbers are found to be bitter, it is 

 because they have not had enough water to the 

 roots. Gumming is usually induced by low tem- 

 perature and stagnant roots, for which more heat 

 and stimulant should be given. 



Cucumbers are very liable to be attacked by 

 Green Fly {Aphis), Red Fly (A cams), and Thrips, 

 and for their expulsion see the supplement, 

 * Garden Pests.' They are also subject to mildew, 

 canker, and gumming, for the prevention of which 

 see supplement, ' Diseases of Plants.' 



A few Hints for Cucumber Growing. — A 

 constant supply of moisture is most necessary. In 

 addition to liberal applications of water or liquid 

 manure at the root, the whole of the interior of the 

 frame or house for cucumbers must be thoroughly 

 syringed twice a day in bright weather, and even 

 three or four times on very warm sunny days, 

 especially if there is much wind. The foliage 

 should be shaded to prevent its flagging, but no 

 more. Plenty of moisture will keep it up under all 

 but the strongest sun. Close the frame an hour or 

 two at least before the sun goes off it in the 

 afternoon (after a good damping down), and let the 

 thermometer rise to 70° or 100° for a time. A 

 little air may be given later on if necessary. 



The best kinds of cucumbers to grow are 

 Telegraph, Lockie's Perfection, Sutton's Duke of 

 Connaught, and Hutton's Magnum Bonum. For 

 Ridge Cucumbers : Sutton's King of the Ridge, 



