PRACTICAL STUDY OF GARDENING 207 



while the dew is still on the plants, sprinkle them care- 

 fully. Repeat this after every rain, or when for any 

 cause the ashes have been blown or washed off the leaves 

 of the plant. This will absolutely prevent damage from 

 the cucumber bug and you ought to have no loss from that 

 source. The ashes not only do no harm but are a decided 

 benefit in that they contain valuable fertilizing material 

 in the shape of potash. Don't use coal ashes. Always 

 use wood ashes. If you haven't any wood ashes a light 

 application of air-slaked lime will be of great benefit. 



Ordinarily cucumbers are allowed to run along the 

 ground. I have found that the output from a small tract 

 is very greatly increased if a trellis is provided and the 

 vines are trained up on this. This accomplishes a num- 

 ber of purposes. In the first place the vines are off the 

 ground and are not injured during the process of culti- 

 vation or picking the cucumbers. This is exceedingly im- 

 portant. Furthermore, it is then easily possible to see 

 every cucumber when it attains the proper size for pick- 

 ing. If the vines are on the ground, some which are 

 overlooked ripen and this to a large extent weakens the 

 vitality of the plant. This trellis is very easily made, 

 costs practically nothing, and the only attention that must 

 be given is that as soon as the vines are 2 feet or so long 

 they will have to be tied up to the trellis. After that 

 they will practically take care of themselves. 



The most distinctive feature of the garden on the farm 

 should be the reduction of hand labor to a minimum. In 

 planting the garden, therefore, it should be laid out in 

 long rows, sufficiently far apart to permit the use of a 

 horse and cultivator in tending the crops. 



The arrangement of the garden as to length of rows 

 and time of planting, is not the only labor saving feature 

 that should characterize the typical farmer's garden. 

 Field methods should be practiced in preparing the land 

 for planting, and as much preliminary work done in the 



