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The preparation of the soil should be especially 

 thorough. Deep plowing should be the rule, and 

 the soil well compacted and fined to its full depth. 

 Heavy applications of stable manures should be 

 made, and it is a common practice in some localities 

 to place a shovelful of well-rotted material in the 

 bottom of each hill. Heavy applications of high- 

 grade commercial fertilizers are used to supplement 

 the stable manures. Some care need be taken to 

 prevent a too rank growth of vine, which is some- 

 times secured by over-applications of nitrate, but 

 this condition is unusual, just the opposite being 

 much more likely to occur. 



Under field conditions planting is usually done in 

 hills from four to six feet apart in each direction. 

 The rows should be checked in both directions in 

 order to facilitate early cultivation. Planting should be 

 delayed until the soil is thoroughly prepared and 

 warmed. From 12 to 20 seeds should be planted 

 in each hill in order to secure a good stand. After 

 danger of insects have passed the plants in each hill 

 should be thinned down to four or five. Almost 

 constant cultivation with the horse implements 

 should be kept up until the vines seriously interfere. 

 Frequent hoeing about the base of the plants gives 

 excellent results. Few crops respond to the use of 

 the hand hoe better than the cucumber.. 



Harvesting is begun when the fruits are from five to 

 10 inches in length. They should be graded and sorted 

 according to size, the larger and perfect specimens 

 going into the first grade, while those of ir- 

 regular size and shape may make up the second 

 grade. Cucumbers are marketed in trays, boxes, 

 hampers and sometimes in well-ventilated barrels. 

 The cucumber is frequently grown as a companion 



