OF THE CUCUMBER. 69 



In the courfe of the fpring and fummer months 

 feveral fhoots break forth here and there from the 

 old ones. When too many break out, 1 cut off the 

 weakeft of them clofe to the old ihoots, and thofe 

 which I let reniain I treat, with regard to flopping, 

 nearly in the fame manner as young plants. 



If the old flioot, from which the new one burft 

 forth, lie clofe to the mould, it foon fends forth 

 roots from the fame joint from which the young fhoot 

 proceeded, by which the young flioot is much in- 

 vigorated, and the old plant, in fome meafure, re- 

 novated. 



When this young plant is fairly formed on the old 

 fhoot, it foraewhat refembles a young plant formed 

 and ftruck root on a ftrawberry runner. And if the 

 fhoot were to be cut off on each fide of the newly 

 formed plant, and no part of the plants left in the 

 frame but itfelf, by proper treatment it would foon 

 extend itfelf all over the frame. 



In winter, when the plants are young, and before 

 they come into bearing, it fometimes happens that 

 they fend forth too many fhoots : In that cafe I cut 

 the weakeft of them off, not fufFering them to become 

 crowded and thick of vines, for that would weaken 

 and prevent the plants from bearing fo early as they 

 ought to do. 



The leaves of the plants I always keep regularly 

 thin. The oldeft and word of them I cut off firft, and 

 I cut them off clofe to the fhoot on which they grow. 

 This is neceflary and right ; for if any part of the 



E 3 flem 



