VEGETABLES AND THEIR CULTURE 35 



manure or straw over them. The plants should be dry when stored and 

 they should not be unnecessarily exposed to sun and hard, drying winds. 



Cucumbers. Most farmers are familiar with the ordinary method of 

 growing cucumbers. If hotbeds are available, it is best to start a few hills 

 under glass. This is a very simple operation. A good plan is to fill quart 

 berry baskets with soil containing a large proportion of rotten manure; 

 drop about eight seeds in each basket and after the plants are up thin them 

 to two or three. See that the boxes are not lacking in moisture at any time. 

 The seed should be sown not more than four weeks in advance of the time 

 suitable for planting in the field. Overgrown plants are a disadvantage. 

 It is very much better not to use plants more than a month old. Whether 

 the seed is sown under glass or in the open ground, the soil should be made 

 very rich by using plenty of rotten manure. Planting distances vary, but 

 5x5 feet will be found satisfactory when the ground is very fertile. There 

 are several strains of White Spine which are popular for general planting. 

 For picklers, Chicago Pickling, Boston Pickling and Fordhook Pickling 

 are popular. 



The striped cucumber beetle is one of the most serious enemies of this 

 crop. The most thorough means of prevention is to cover the plants with 

 mosquito netting or with wooden frames with netting over them. Air- 

 slaked lime, sprinkled on the plants, is usually effective as a repellant. 

 Tobacco dust may also be used. 



Eggplant. The eggplant is often overlooked in the planting of the 

 farmer's garden. This crop thrives best in a warm climate and for this 

 reason many of the northern gardeners do not attempt to cultivate it. 

 It may be grown, however, in all parts of the North, especially if the plants 

 are started under glass and planted in rich, moist soil. It is also important 

 to select an early variety such as Early Long Purple. The fruit of this 

 variety is not as large as that of New York Improved or Black Beauty, 

 but it will be found quite satisfactory for the home table. A high tempera- 

 ture is required for starting the plants; therefore it is best not to sow too 

 early. They should be transplanted into two-inch pots and later into three 

 or four-inch pots, and then the gardener can transfer them to the field 

 without checking their growth. 



Horse Radish. There should be at least a few plants of horse radish 

 in every farm garden. It is easily grown in any moist, rich soil. The crop 

 is easily propagated by root cuttings, which are made when the roots are 

 dug for market or for the home table; that is, the small lateral roots are 

 trimmed from the large ones and saved for planting. It is customary to 

 cut the roots intended for propagation square at the upper end and slanting 

 at the lower end so that you will know which end to plant up when they are 

 set in the garden. 



Kale. This crop is quite successful in some parts of the South and 

 is seen occasionally in northern districts. It requires the same cultural 

 conditions as cabbage. The most prominent varieties are Imperial Long 



