VARIETIES. 205 



the flowers are fertilized, and this will be an improve- 

 ment, in addition to what is gained in the improved 

 form of the fruits, and in labor. 



As the fruits develop, the larger ones should be sup- 

 ported by slings of raffia, to relieve the vines of their 

 weight and prevent their being torn from their supports, 

 but if the vines are carefully tied to the trellis, with 

 raffia, the ordinary varieties can be grown without tying 

 up the fruits. The crop should be ready for market in 

 from sixty to eighty days from the date of sowing the seed. 



VARIETIES. 



For most markets the common garden varieties are 

 the only ones that are profitable, the White Spine and a 

 strain known as Arlington White Spine being most 

 commonly grown. The English forcing cucumbers have 

 a flavor distinctly their own, and retain their green color 

 much longer than the ordinary sorts. They often reach 

 a length of two feet, and are edible after they attain 

 their full development. Of the forcing sorts, Sion 

 House (Fig. 75) is most commonly grown. It is smooth, 

 regular in shape, and something over a foot in length ; 

 Telegraph is long, smooth and slender, with a length of 

 from sixteen to twenty inches ; Marquis of Lome is still 

 larger, and is an excellent variety for one of its size. 

 Duke of Edinburgh is another very long variety. In 

 growing cucumbers under glass, the black plant louse 

 and the spotted mite are quite troublesome, but they can 

 readily be kept in check by syringing the plants with 

 fir tree oil, or tobacco water. 



The plants are also subject to the attack of various 

 fungous diseases, one of the most injurious of which is 

 the powdery mildew. For diseases of this kind, evapo- 

 rated sulphur will be found an excellent remedy. 



THE FORCING OF TOMATOES. 



The tomato flourishes under about the same con- 

 ditions as the cucumber, and may be grown in the same 



