33 



to cucumbers and lettuce, it is evident that the largest houses cost the 

 least, whether reckoned b\- cost per linear foot or cubic contents. For 

 example, a house 40 feet wide can be l)uilt proportionally cheaper than 

 one 20 feet wide. The average cost per linear foot of a number of 

 houses ranging from 18 to 23 feet in width, without piping or boiler, 

 was '? 18.86 ; that of a number of houses 36 to 40 feet in width averaged 

 about §10 per linear foot From these tigiu-es it is clear that a large 

 house costs less per unit of structure than a small house, and the cost 

 of operating the same is less. The cost of crop production is cheaper 

 in a large house than in a small one ; and it would be more economical 

 to manage one large house, 40 by 300 feet, than three small ones, 20 by 

 200 feet, having the same total ai'ea. 



Transplanting Cdcdmbers. 



Most greenhouse cucumber growers stai*t their seed "in boxes, or in 

 beds in special houses. When the seedlings are from 2 to 4 inches high, 

 they transplant them into pots ; they are allowed to grow 6 to 8 inches 

 high in pots before transplanting in the house. Some growers trans- 

 plant twice in pots, and, as a rule, the seedlings are planted deeper each 

 time in the soil, so that the cotyledons are just above the surface. It is 

 claimed that a better root system is developed by this practice. The 

 principal object to be gained by transplanting cucumbers is the saving 

 of space, time and heat. Plants sufficient for a large establishment can 

 be started in a small house especially devoted to seedlings, which does 

 not require much expense to operate ; whereas, if the seeds are sown 

 directly in beds, and not transplanted, it is necessary to go to the ex- 

 pense of heating a large house. It is also claimed that transplanted 

 cucumbers will grow faster and make better plants. Our own experi- 

 ments have not verified this statement, as we have never seen any 

 difference in size of our plants, whether they were transplanted or 

 sown direct in the beds. Other than the saving in space, heat, etc., 

 which are important, we have never seen any advantage in transplant- 

 ing cucumbers. 



Tempeuatl'ke rkquiued for Indoor Cuccmbers. 

 Where cucumbers are grown under glass, it is necessary to supply 

 them with considerable heat, the night temperature required being 

 about 65' F., and the day temperature about 85° F. The temperature 

 requirement varies with the condition of the weather. Higher temper- 

 atures can be maintained during sunshine than during cloudy weather. 

 Houses are frequently run in the day lime at a temperature exceeding 

 85^ F. High temperatures during cloudy weather will produce a weak 

 growth, lacking a suificietit texture of foliage, etc., which would result 

 in the plant possessing a marked tendency to wilt in strong sunliglit. 

 The conditions which cucumbers are subject to under glass are by no 

 means the same as those which occur in the summer out of doors. In- 

 door cucumbers are subject to very different moisture conditions, and in 

 the winter the light is none too good for a plant whose requirements 

 demand strong light. In order that cucumber plants may be induced to 



