29 



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healing of wounds. The first shock given to an organism by a 

 mutilation causes a retardation of growth which is subsequently fol- 

 lowed by an accelerated growth. After a lime acceleration decreases 

 and the plant growth activities become normal. Coincident with 

 these growth changes there occur characteristic respiratory and met- 

 abolic variations in the organism. The plant, in fact, behaves not 

 unlike any organism which is injured, but the processes are so slow 

 in the plant organism and it is apparently so irresponsive that they 

 are not evident to common observation. It is only the ultimate 

 efifeccs of these physiological reactions of the plant that the practical 

 man discerns and it is Qnly these which concern hiir. It is always 

 well, however, to bear in mind when we prune or apply other forms 

 of stimuli just what we intend to accomplish. It is possible to stim- 

 ulate plants in such a manner that they will be ar fruit, whereas 

 another stimulus of a counteracting nature might be employed to 

 produce just the opposite result. It is also possible to stimulate 

 plants in such a manner that they may become more susceptible to 

 disease. The results of the application of this form of stimulation 

 are too common among novices and inexperienced growers. Among 

 other modifications which take place as the result of pruning the 

 laterals of the cucumber is apparently an increase in the production 

 of pistillate flowers in the axils of the first leaf, consequently con- 

 centration and increase of the fruit at that point. 



CUCUMBER DISEASES. 



A number of pathogenic organisms have been described that give 

 rise to characteristic diseases of cucumbers. Dr. W. C. Sturgis's 

 Host Index* gives a list of these. This list, however, makes no ref- 

 erence to those diseases induced by animal parasites, or those which are 

 the result of specific functional derangements. All of these organisms 

 do not occur on cucumbers cultivated under glass in this State, and 

 others that have been reported a few times are of rare occurrence in 

 greenhouses. There are abnormal conditions producing in the 

 cucumber, as in other plants, diseases for which pathogenic organ- 



*Twenty-foiirth An. Report, Conn. Expt. Sta. for igoo. 



