104 VEGECULTURE 



through their existence are grown on carefully from pot to pot, 

 until they occupy their fruiting quarters. At any rate, up to 

 the first shift, the culture is practically the same for all members 

 of the Cucumber Family. After that stage, separate and 

 special culture comes into operation for each section. It may 

 be well to mention here that, when hot manure is used, it should 

 be made firm before the soil is put on it ; also that the soil 

 should not be trodden firm for Cucumbers, but for Melons 

 should always be made compact all over. 



With regard to the Cucumber, there is no more profitable 

 and ornamental procedure than growing this subject in a 

 greenhouse. Most glass structures, on account of the extra 

 attention demanded in the upkeep of moisture to combat the 

 hot, dry weather usually prevailing, and the tiring application 

 of liquid to so many small pots, are in a 4 state of woeful neglect 

 during the summer months. In some cases, even Tomatoes fail 

 to give a satisfactory return ; but Cucumbers, if properly 

 managed and grown, will rarely fail to prove accommodating. 

 The conditions governing the culture of Cucumbers include an 

 ample provision of water and liquid manure, and this becomes a 

 far easier matter to accomplish where half a dozen or a dozen 

 plants are concerned, than fifty or a hundred or more in the 

 way of floral decoration, especially if the Cucumber plants 

 are grown in the greenhouse border, large, deep boxes, and 

 large pots, for the bulk of soil, besides holding a greater quantity 

 of moisture, can be assisted in liquid retention by the use of a 

 thick manurial mulch, which is not possible, of course, with 

 flowers in small pots ; hence, the comparative ease of Cucumber 

 culture. Then there is the advantages of a roof covered with 

 large, handsome leaves, affording desirable shade to such 

 flowering plants one may find room for ; and this adds to the 

 utility of the improvised Cucumber house in transferring the 

 almost impossible maintenance of floral supply in hot weather 

 into a certainty. 



However, Cucumbers pay the amateur. After his autumn, 

 winter, and early spring floral beauties which he is wise enough 

 to have been in possession of have done their best, he should 

 clear his house of all these plants at the end of April, and make 

 ready for the accommodation of the useful Cucumber. The 

 procedure to be brief consists firstly in making heaps of 

 rich soil over the hot-water pipes, or on a hotbed ; the soil to 

 be, for preference, a sandy, turfy loam. The temperature 



