operators did not have sufficient available help to harvest the crop. Several 

 dairymen were confronted in early August with competing demands for 

 their labor between harvesting hay and picking cucumbers. These particular 

 dairymen should not have attempted to grow cucumbers. They did not have 

 the available labor at picking time and could not afford to divert manpower 

 from their regular roughage production program. Some who followed good 

 cultural practices and planted on moist land had good yields. The success 

 of these few men in 1950 gave a favorable indication of the possibility of 

 the crop, if grown under good management and normal weather. The most 

 productive fields were on farms operated by experienced truck farmers. 



From the viewpoint of an intensive crop to increase the income of under- 

 employed rural families living on small tracts of land, the observations 

 made in 1950 indicate little progress will be made unless the company or 

 some agency gives detailed instructions and frequent supervisory visits to 

 the farms to teach the proper practices and skills. The crop seems to have 

 possibilities. A few families on small places did increase their incomes. 

 But considerable intensive educational work will be required before the 

 families needing this type of crop can benefit from its production. To pro- 

 mote most efficient production, careful selection of growers should precede 

 the educational work. Field observations show that some families tend to 

 grow cucumbers one year, do not acquire the essential skills, and because 

 of poor yields and low returns for their efforts become discouraged and 

 drop the program. 



One solution of the problem might be the employment of a special 

 field man by the company to aid the growers in production technique. This 

 has been the usual procedure of processing companies elsewhere in develop- 

 ing the production of a new crop under a purchase contract. A company 

 representative, by personal visits to new growers in May and June, could 

 be helpful in many ways. For instance, he could encourage and aid in 

 arrangements for custom work in plowing and fitting the land on farms 

 where operators do not have adequate equipment. He could teach the 

 essential skills for production of a profitable crop. He could encourage 

 special arrangements whereby a producer would grow several acres up to 

 harvest and lease picking rights to individuals who needed more income. 

 However, these services to scattered, small-volume farmers might be fairly 

 expensive and the company would need to analyze the situation in the light 

 of its other alternatives. 



Harvesting 



Special emphasis was placed on observations of harvesting problems 

 and a preliminary report was made.* The study of the harvesting phase of 

 the production problem indicated that frequency of picking the crop was 

 an important management decision. Comparison was made experimentally 

 between three frequencies of picking: six times a week, three times a week, 

 and two times a week. The lower total weight as frequency of picking in- 

 creased was accounted for by the higher proportion of small cucumbers. 

 The greater total value was due to these small cucumbers falling into high 

 value grades. However, frequent picking required more hours of labor. 

 An average of 314 man hours per acre were used picking six times a week, 



* "Progress Report on Harvesting and Marketing Cucumbers for Pickles Under 

 Contract", Harry C. Woodworth, Agricultural Economics Research Mimeograph No. 8, 

 New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, January, 1951. 



