332 How THE FARM PAYS. 



this case was clearly due to the fertilizer, as the product was more 

 than doubled by it, so that the expenditure of $15 repaid nearly $200 

 in increase of crop, as the cucumbers were sold at $1.50 per 1,000. 

 Some attention is required to secure a good yield. The ground must 

 be kept loose by frequent cultivation until the vines cover the ground. 

 The main vines must be pinched at the ends to keep them within 

 bounds and to encourage the outgrowth of side branches, which are 

 the most prolific of fruit. The main branches bear chiefly male or 

 staminate flowers, which are barren of fruit, and the side branches 

 bear the pistillate or productive flowers; so that the great secret in 

 growing this crop, as well as all kinds of cucumbers, melons and 

 squashes, consists in this shortening in of the main vine and the 

 encouragement of the laterals. The fruit is gathered every morning 

 as soon as it has reached a proper size, which is from two to three 

 inches. These cucumbers are never cut, but are always preserved 

 and pickled whole. The chief labor is in preventing damage by lice 

 and the small cucumber beetle; for the former we find the best 

 remedy to be to pluck off the first infested leaves, by which the other- 

 wise rapid spread of this pest is prevented. For the other pest 

 dusting with finely ground gypsum is the best and usual remedy." 



EGG PLANT. 



This vegetable is not likely to be much wanted in country towns, 

 although it is used to a considerable extent at the watering places in 



NEW YORK IMPROVED EGG PLANT 



hotels and boarding houses. It is not worth while for the farmer, for 

 all he would be likely to want of this crop, to go to the trouble of 

 raising his own plants, as it is rather a difficult process, and requires 

 warm hot beds to start them in during the early spring months. He 



