148 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



all vines are thirsty plants; they must have 

 abundance of water. If it becomes necessary to 

 supplement the supply in the soil, use water that 

 has become somewhat warm by standing. The 

 cold water from the hose, even when turned on 

 the ground in the morning, shocks the vitality of 

 these warm-season vines. Water the cucumbers 

 towards night ; pour the stream of water into the 

 center of the hill and down each stem. The im- 

 portance of thorough work in artificial watering 

 cannot be over-emphasized. Give each hill all the 

 water it will absorb. Soak the soil clear through 

 to the moist lower layers and in the morning stir 

 the surface to prevent any waste through evapo- 

 ration. A sufficient water supply is certainly 

 indispensable; but most important to immediate, 

 steady, vigorous growth is tillage. From planting 

 time until the vines completely shade the surface, 

 tillage must be maintained. If early tillage is 

 neglected, subsequent attention cannot repair the 

 damage. The stunted wizened growth can never 

 be changed into vigorous fruit-bearing vines. The 

 best surface tillage is necessary to get the plants 

 so well established in vigorous growth that plenty 

 of blossoms set before the blighting heat of mid- 

 summer. 



With all vines, while intelligent care is bring- 

 ing about vigor, much may be accomplished 

 toward fruit production by the control of growth. 



