some authorities*, that certain varieties of cucumbers, such as the 

 Telegraph, or long English types, do not require fertilization, inas- 

 much as the fruit matures, whether fertilized or not, in the latter case 

 a seedless fruit being formed. This is considered an advantage, inas- 

 much as there are no seeds to contend with. When seeds for propa- 

 gating purposes are desired, however, the practice of fertilization 

 becomes necessary. 



Pruning Cucumbers. 



When cucumbers are grown under glass in winter, the amount of 

 space the plants occupy, together with the amount of fruit which 

 they produce, is of prime importance from an economic point of . view. 

 It is quite essential, therefore, that as many plants shall be grown as 

 possible, without overcrowding or interfering with conditions suitable 

 for maximum production. To secure the best results in the least 

 space, the plants are trained on wires or sticks. The cucumber plant 

 is a prolific grower, and requires a great deal of space if allowed to 

 develop naturally. As there is nothing to be gained in allowing a 

 plant grown under glass to develop in its own manner, the practice 

 of pruning is resorted to. Since the question of utilizing valuable 

 space is an important one, it is necessary that the greatest amount of 

 fruit should be restricted to the least possible space consistent with 

 the normal requirements of the plant. The object of pruning is, 

 therefore, to confine the growth of the plant to certain definite areas, 

 and to concentrate the formation of fruit on the plant to certain 

 desirable positions. 



The two common methods of pruning are known as the single and 

 double shoot system. In either case the laterals which arise from 

 the main shoot are treated in the same manner. In the single shoot 

 system a leader is allowed to grow, together with all the laterals or 

 axillary branches which normally occur in the axil of each leaf. As 

 a rule, fruit sets in the first axils of the laterals, and, in case this 

 happens, the laterals are pruned, or the bud nipped, at the second 

 leaf on each lateral. (See figure 8.) By nipping the bud or shoot 



•Consult L. B. Bailey, Cornell Bulletin Xo. 31,1891, also " The Forcing Book '' page 195 

 etc. by the same author. 



