14 



Soils and Fertilizers. 



Cucumbers, unlike lettuce, are not susceptible to minute variations 

 in soil texture. A great variety of soils can be utilized successfully 

 for cucumbers, if plenty of organic matter is supplied. Those who 

 make a specialty of growing cucumbers under glass generally use a 

 soil made up of three-fourths decomposed sod and one-fourth horse ■ 

 manure. This makes a light soil containing a large amount of 

 organic matter which is replenished each year by adding more horse 

 manure. 



The fertilizers usually employed are ground bone, wood ashes, 

 and frequently some complete commercial fertilizer. As far as our 

 observations go, cucumbers do not respond so readily to fertilizers 

 as many other plants, i. e. the application of a fertilizer does not 

 manifest itself so conspicuously as in other plants. They do respond, 

 however, quite freely to the influence of sterilized soil. In supplying 

 organic matter to the soil we have frequently practiced sowing some 

 leguminous crop such as White Lupine or Canada peas in the beds 

 during August and September when the houses were empty, and 

 turning this crop under before replanting. Both of these plants are 

 rapid growers, and the Lupine readily forms large nodules, which, 

 when turned under, supply the soil with nitrogen as well as organic 

 matter. 



Temperature Required for Indoor Cucumbers. 



Where cucumbers are grown under glass, it is necessar}' to supply 

 them with considerable heat, the night temperature required being 

 about 65° F. and the day temperature about 85^ F. The temperature 

 requirement varies with the condition of the weather. Higher tem- 

 peratures can be maintained during sunshine than during cloudy 

 weather. Houses are frequently run during the day at a temperature 

 exceeding 85'^ F. High temperatures during cloudy weather will 

 produce a weak growth, lacking a sufficient texture of foliage, etc., 

 causing in the plant a marked tendency to wilt in strong sunlight. 

 The conditions to which cucumbers are subject under glass are by 

 no means the same as those which occur in the summer out of doors. 

 Indoor cucumbers are subject to very different moisture conditions, 

 and in the winter the light is none too good for a plant demanding 

 -Strong light. In order that cucumber plants may be induced to 



