VEGETABLES 293 



with old, well-pulverized barn-yard fertilizer. Cover 

 with a few inches of soil, but do not have the surface . 

 of the hill higher than the surrounding soil surface. 

 Plant a dozen or fifteen cucumber seeds, scattering 

 them over a circular surface a foot or more in diam- 

 eter, so that plants will come up in all parts of the 

 hill. Cover with about one inch of soil. 



2 As soon as the young seedlings appear, watch carefully 

 for striped beetles and black squash bugs. If these 

 pests are very thick, apply a shovelful of tobacco 

 powder to each hill or dust with plaster; or, perhaps 

 a better way, protect the hills with mosquito netting 

 held up by supports or frames. In most sections of 

 the country the raising of cucumbers or other related 

 plants involves a constant fight against these insect 

 enemies. 



3. Keep the surface of the ground well tilled and stirred, 

 and do not thin the plants until they begin to crowd 

 so that there will be danger of disturbing the roots of 

 those left when you pull up those that are to be 

 taken out. Thin finally to about four plants to 

 a hill, having the plants left well distributed in the 

 hill. 



THE STORY. 



Connect your records of culture and accounts of insect 

 pests to make an instructive story. Illustrate it with 

 sketches. In closing, summarize your opinions as to 

 the best means of securing good results another 

 year. 



