248 GARDEN FARMING 



about 15 or 1 8 inches apart in single rows upon the side benches 

 of the greenhouse, which are normally 3^ feet wide. If planted on 

 the 8-foot benches referred to above they should be set about I o or 

 1 2 inches from the edge and from 15 to 1 8 inches apart, parallel 

 to the edge of the bench. In the broad benches, where more than a 

 double row can be carried, plants can be set at intervals of 1 8 inches 

 to 3 feet in rows 6 feet apart. A satisfactory plan for an 8-foot bench 

 is a row parallel to, and 10 inches from, each edge of the bench 

 and a double row 18 inches apart through the middle of the 

 bench. It is well, however, to allow as much space as possible. The 

 cucumber is a rank-growing plant, and many side branches will 

 develop if sufficient space is allowed. 



Training the plants. As soon as the plants show a tendency to 

 run they should be trained so that they will fill all the space on the 

 trellis, but will not become unduly tangled. The trellis can be made 

 of light edging -J inch square, tacked to the side of the bench, if 

 the cucumbers are grown on wooden benches, and set up in the 

 form of the letter A, as shown in figure 90. Galvanized wire 

 No. 1 6 can be run lengthwise of the house and stapled to the sup- 

 ports, which should be placed about 6 feet apart. If elevated side 

 benches are used, it will be necessary to train the cucumbers to the 

 framework of the greenhouse. For this purpose screw eyes about 

 8 inches in length can be placed in the sash bars at intervals of 

 4 or 5 feet, and the parallel wires to which the vines are to be tied 

 can be stretched 12 inches apart lengthwise of the house through 

 these screw eyes and firmly fastened at the ends. The vines should 

 then be loosely tied to the supporting wires with raffia or soft 

 cotton yarn. When the fruits become very heavy, as in the case 

 of the English varieties, it will be necessary to truss them, as 

 shown in figure 87, to prevent their weight breaking the vines* 

 Heavy fruits will cause the supporting wires or bands of raffia to 

 break or girdle the vines unless they are supported independently. 

 The American varieties seldom attain sufficient size to require 

 this precaution. Fruits of these varieties, as soon as they are from 

 8 to 10 inches in length and 2 'inches in diameter, are harvested 

 for market. 



Pollination. The cucumber, like the other members of the 

 Gourd family to which it belongs, bears two kinds of blossoms 



