26 



In another experiment in the same house, the plants were allowed 

 to develop a single leader and as many laterals as appeared. The 

 latter, however, in this experiment were pruned at the second leaf, or 

 in case fruit did not set in the first axil of the lateral, they were 

 pruned just beyond the axil where it did set, which was usually the 

 second. 



This experiment includes such varieties as the Giant Pera, White 

 Spine, Telegraph, and Hybrid. The following table II. will show 

 the results obtained in one experiment where 36 plants were used. 



Table II. showing the average number of flowers produced on 

 four varieties of cucumbers : 



With the exception of the Hybrid variety the seeds for this crop 

 were obtained in the market, and the plants from which they were 

 taken were probably the ordinary type. The Hybrid variety, how- 

 ever, was obtained from a cucumber grower who developed this 

 strain, and the stock represents some attempt at breeding and selec- 

 tion. Too much stress should not be laid on the varietal differences 

 shown in this table, as it is the result of only oneexperiment. More- 

 over, the cucumber plant is quite plastic and subject to considerable 

 variation. It is possible to develop any of these types along certain 

 lines to such an extent that the results would be entirely different. 

 By means of selection and breeding, some cucumber growers have 

 succeeded in producing quite remarkable bearers. The plants rep- 

 resented in this experiment were grown under similar conditions as 

 regards soil, heat, moisture, light, etc. The Hybrid showed the 



