170 VEGETABLE GROWING. 



the sun a chance to warm it up. If rains occur soon 

 after planting, no time should be lost in loosening the 

 soil ; this will help to let off the surplus water besides 

 achieving the same objects stated before, viz. : aerate 

 and warm the soil. These hard rains of winter and 

 spring that occur in the Lower South are a greater draw- 

 back in vegetable growing than they seem to the ma- 

 jority of people in that business. If plants have been 

 set out, the plowing should not be delayed so long. 



It is usually not necessary to cultivate the middles 

 oftener than twice a month, just often enough to keep 

 the land in good condition. As the vines grow out 

 from the hills, as centers, the " middles" will decrease 

 in width until finally the hills meet and plowing must 

 be suspended. In case a vine begins to "run" too 

 much, cut off its tips ; this will cause new laterals to 

 be formed and the hill to grow compact. It is not 

 good to move a vine, as this loosens its hold and gives 

 the wind a chance to mutilate it. If the hill is kept 

 compact by heading in all runners the vines will cling 

 to one another, and obviate the danger from being 

 blown about. 



PICKING AND PACKING. 



Cukes are " ripe'' when the blossom end has filled 

 out well. (See Fig. 24.) It is best to let them get as 

 large as possible without letting the seed harden. As 

 soon as the shell around the seed begins to harden they 

 are no longer salable ; this can be learned by testing 

 a few. One will find that the appearance will differ 

 with the variety. If by chance or otherwise some 

 have been left on the vines too long, they should be 

 pulled as soon as possible. A ripening cucumber saps 

 the vitality out of a vine to a remarkable degree. 

 Culls and wormy ones should also be removed imme- 

 diately. Often culls can be sold in the local market 



