156 A YEAR'S WORK IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



inches deep, on a piece of hard ground, will suffice, if the plants are 

 kept regularly watered. From this bed they will lift with nice roots 

 for planting out, scarcely feeling the removal at all. 



CHIVES to be divided and re-planted on a spot which has not 

 previously been occupied with the crop. 



CUCUMBER. The vines should now be in a flourishing condition, 

 but it is necessary to look forward to the day when they will fall into 

 the sere and yellow leaf. More seed sown singly in pots will provide 

 a succession of plants. Re-pot them once or twice if necessary, and 

 when large enough turn them out between the first lot. As the old 

 plants fail, the new-comers will supply their places. Some growers 

 take down the vines, and strike them at a distance from the original 

 roots. A more common practice is to take cuttings from plants 

 which have proved extra good. These have the advantage of being 

 very fruitful, and the disadvantage of being less robust than plants 

 raised from seed. Setting the bloom, as it is called, is not only 

 useless, but is a mischievous procedure. It results in the enlarge- 

 ment of one end of the fruit, and ruins its appearance. If seed 

 be the object, of course the process is justifiable ; but for the table a 

 'bottle nose' cannot be regarded as an ornament. Besides, the 

 ripening of seed in a single fruit will materially diminish the useful- 

 ness of the plant, and perhaps entirely end its career. Stopping the 

 vine is a necessity, but it should not be done too soon. In the early 

 stage of growth, it reduces the vigour of the plant and retards its 

 fruiting ; but when the fruit is visible, stopping aids its development, 

 and at the same time tends to regulate and equalise the growth. 



Frame culture of Cucumbers is usually begun in March. There 

 are men who can produce fruit from hot-beds all the year round, but 

 it is a difficult task, and as a rule ought not to be expected. At this 

 time of year, however, success is fairly within reach of ordinary skill. 

 In quite the early part of the month put seed singly into pots, and 

 keep them in a warm moist place. The plants will then be ready for 

 frames at the end of the month. The most important business is the 

 preparation of the bed, and in this, as in all else, there is a right and 

 a wrong way of doing the work. Accurately set out the space on 

 which it is to be made. If there is plenty of manure, make the bed 

 large enough to project eighteen inches beyond the lights all round. 

 But if manure is scarce, cut the margin closer, and trust to a hot 

 lining when the heat begins to flag. Commence with the outside of 

 the bed, employing the long stuff in its construction ; and keep this 

 part of the work a little in advance of the centre until the full height 



