THE CUCUMBER. 267 



fruiting should not have the leading shoot stopped till 

 it gets half-way to the top of the house, and after 

 that, not again till it reaches near the top. The 

 lateral growths show fruit freely when stopped regu- 

 larly. It is well, too, especially in winter, to remove 

 the male blossoms as soon as they are discerned. 

 Impregnated cucumbers are never so equal and good 

 as those which are unfertilised ; and except for seed, 

 no impregnation should be allowed. I cannot impress 

 too strongly the fact, that to have a constant supply 

 of good cucumbers over a length of time, over -cropping 

 must be avoided by removing those not absolutely 

 required. It is a tempting sight to have a fine dis- 

 play at one time. It looks well while it lasts, but 

 the plants will rebel by resting for a season after the 

 effort. 



After they have been bearing some time and give 

 indications that a top-dressing would be beneficial, 

 mix two parts old mushroom-bed or old hotbed man- 

 ure with one part of turfy loam, and cover the surface 

 of the bed to the depth of 1 inch or a little more ; 

 and after the turn of the season, about the end of 

 January, apply a similar covering to the roots that 

 will have seized upon the first dressing. With in- 

 creased daylight, they will do with increased moisture, 

 and these top-dressings will cause them to grow more 

 strongly, and they will go on bearing under similar 

 treatment for a long time. It is, however, desirable, 

 when convenience exists, to raise more plants to come 

 into bearing in spring, and, if necessary, to introduce 

 a new set of plants into the winter house to bear 

 through the summer, or to allow of its being devoted 

 to propagation or any other purpose. Not that this is 

 absolutely necessary, although desirable, for the same 



