166 SMropical Vegetable-Gardening 



plowing may be delayed ten days ; but by this time the 

 cultivator should be used on each side of the row, and a 

 week after this plowing the rows should be cross-plowed. 

 If plants have been set out, the plowing should not be 

 delayed so long. This plowing is not so much to kill 

 out young weeds as to get air into the soil, and to conserve 

 the moisture. If rains occur soon after planting, no 

 time should be lost in loosening the soil; this will help 

 to let off the surplus water besides aerating and warming 

 the soil. 



It is usually not necessary to cultivate the middles 

 deeply oftener than twice a month, just often enough to 

 keep the land in good condition. An implement known 

 as a weeder and drawn by one or two horses is excellent 

 for keeping the middles in proper tilth. As the vines grow 

 out from the hills, the "middles" wiU decrease in width 

 until finally the vines meet and plowing must be suspended. 

 In case the vines begin to run too much, their tips should be 

 cut off ; this will cause new laterals to be formed and the 

 hill to grow compact. It is not good to disturb a vine, 

 as this loosens its hold and gives the wind a chance to 

 mutilate it. If the hill is kept compact by heading in the 

 runners, the vines will cling to one another, and prevent 

 any damage from their being blown about. 



Picking and "packing. 



Cucimibers are "ripe" when the blossom end has filled 

 out well. It is best to allow them to get as large as possible 

 without letting the seed harden. As soon as the shell 

 around the seed begins to harden they are no longer sal- 

 able ; this can be learned by testing a few. One will find 



