CUCUMBERS 239 



Harvesting. As soon as cucumbers which are grown for slicing 

 have attained a length of 8 or 10 inches, they are carefully cut from 

 the vines and placed in suitable receptacles. Either splint baskets 

 or boxes may be used for this purpose. They are then carried to 

 a packing house, where they are graded and carefully packed into 

 baskets similar to those used for the shipment of peaches and let- 

 tuce. These baskets are after the style known as the Delaware bas- 

 ket, and range in size from a half bushel to a half barrel. The 

 earliest products, which command the highest prices, are frequently 

 packed in bushel boxes. These boxes are lined with paper, and 

 the selected cucumbers are arranged in tiers so as completely to 

 fill the receptacle. 



Besides the two cases already mentioned, cucumbers are some- 

 times shipped in the regular six-basket peach carrier. The fruits are 

 harvested when they are of proper length to lie crosswise of the 

 carrier basket, and are arranged in tiers. In such packages they 

 make a very attractive appearance, but the cost of the package is a 

 drawback. The bulk of the cucumber crop is handled in the Dela- 

 ware form of basket holding one half bushel. These baskets are 

 somewhat stronger than those used for the shipment of lettuce, 

 since the weight of the cucumbers is much greater. 



There are usually two grades of cucumbers : those which are of 

 uniform size, about 8 inches in length and i^ inches in diameter, 

 constituting the first grade ; and those which are in any way de- 

 formed or are larger or smaller than the first grade, classed as sec- 

 ond grade. Because of the irregularity in size of the seconds, it is 

 impossible to pack them so as to make as neat an appearance as 

 do those of uniform size and shape, and on this account the No. 2's 

 are frequently shipped in ventilated barrels. 



When properly grown the cucumber is very productive and usu- 

 ally brings a remunerative price, ranging from 75 cents to $1.50 

 a basket for the half -bushel or five-eighths size. 



THE FORCING OF CUCUMBERS 



In addition to the field culture of cucumbers, there is in this 

 country and in England a considerable industry in the forcing of 

 this crop. Forcing is a term used by gardeners to designate the 



