■KUnS AND XEGHTABLES UNDER GLASS 



TRAINING AND PRUNING 



The Cucumber is naturall> a rapid grower, and if alKiwed t(j go unrestrained 

 It will soon be beyond control. Considerable pinching and pruning are neces- 

 sary. We pinch both to produce fruit and to keep the vines witiiin bounds, 

 and the same applies to pruning. Whenever the foliage gets crowded remove 

 some of the weaker and older growths, to allow room for tying in the young 

 growths. Nothing is gained by crowding. One well-de\elopcd leaf is better 

 than two poor ones. The young vines may be allowed to grow up to four or 

 live feet before pinching out the center; the lead being thus checked, lateral 

 growths will come from the axils of each leaf, and the fruit will form from these 

 laterals. If the vines are strong enough to carry the first lot of fruit that appears, 

 it may remain, but it is not w'ell to allow them to bear fruit until strong enough 

 to withstand the strain. Many a promising house has been damaged more or 

 less by such an error. Nothing is gained by \ er\ early cropping; it seems to be. 

 on the contrary, a disadvantage. 



The trellis should be covered with foliage, but not crowded. Pinch one 

 leaf beyond the fruit, and in a short time growths will extend again from the 

 shoots that have been pinched, with a showing of fruit, which should again be 

 pinched one leaf beyond. By this method there will be a continuous supply 

 of Cucumbers. 



If the vines and foliage are overcrowded, they must be pruned. Cut away 

 as much of the old vine as possible, to make room for the young growths, as we 

 ha\e to depend on this for our constant supply of fruit. Do not relieve the 

 vines of too large a quantity of foliage at once, for this has a tendency to check 

 them. It is much safer to remove the surplus foliage by degrees. Cucumber 

 vines will occasionally produce far more fruit than they should be allowed to 

 carry, especially the Telegraph types, and in such cases it is better to pinch 

 some off. 



SETTING THE FRUIT 



The Cucumber bears both male and female flowers, like the Melon, but, 

 unlike the latter, it need not be fertilized. Cucumbers may be grown success- 

 lully without any fertilization whatever, especially the Telegraph strain. But 

 if seed is wanted for reproduction, the female flower must be fertilized with the 

 male; if no seed is required, I prefer to grow the Telegraph strain without any 

 fertilization whatever. The White Spine types may also be grown in this man- 

 ner, hut they will swell more evenly if fertilized. Where a large quantity is 

 grown, bees are better for this work than anything else. 



The Cucumber crop is not bothered with many insects. Green fly may 

 appear once in a while, but an occasional light fumigation will keep it in check. 

 Nico-Fume is good for this purpose. Mildew or spot on the foliage is far more 

 serious than fly, and much more difficult to eradicate; but if the ventilators 

 are regulated properly and a congenial atmosphere is maintained, there is no 

 occasion for mildew or spot on the foliage. This disease is usually brought 

 about by uneven temperatures, or perhaps by too cold nights, both conditions 



