VINE VEGETABLES AND FRUITS 



tivation should be continued as long as there is room 

 enough between the hills for the cultivator to pass 

 and should be followed by the rake to produce a 

 clean surface and a dust mulch. When the cultiva- 

 tor can no longer be used, there will still be work 

 for the narrow rake or hoe, and this should be used 

 as long as possible. After the vines cover the ground 

 they should not be disturbed further until the fruit 

 begins to ripen. 



In very dry and dusty spells of weather the 

 vines may be watered with advantage, especially 

 if the watering may be done with a hose, so as to 

 thoroughly cleanse the vine, and liquid manure 

 may occasionally be given with advantage. 



CUCUMBERS 



When wanted for pickles the cucumbers should be 

 gathered as soon as they are large enough. It is bet- 

 ter not to gather both pickles and cucumbers for 

 the table from the same vine, as the maturing of 

 the fruit decreases the production of young fruit. 

 Often, however, there will be enough pickles over- 

 looked in gathering to supply an average family 

 with cucumbers for the table. It is always best to 

 gather the tiny pickles first, depending for large 



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