CUCUMBERS 127 



are given partial shade to keep them from drying 

 out in hot spells. 



Starting in the Window Box. — For the earlier 

 crop, seeds may be planted in the cold frame if de- 

 sired. Pots or baskets may be used, but, as the 

 young vine is not easy to transplant, a piece of sod 

 is the best place for its early growth. Cut pieces of 

 sod about four inches square, invert them in a win- 

 dow box or in the cold frame, and thrust into each 

 four or five cucumber seeds an inch apart. When 

 the weather is suitable, these sods may be placed 

 in the hill without disturbing the roots in any 

 way. 



Preparing the Soil in the Garden. — When the 

 trees are well covered with foliage and warm weather 

 has set in, prepare the hills in the garden. If there is 

 a part of the land which is more moist than the rest, 

 choose this for the cucumbers and melons, avoiding, 

 of course, ground which is not well drained. The 

 hills should be as large as the circumference of a barrel 

 and four feet apart each way. Scoop out the earth 

 to a depth of about six inches, and remove the stones. 

 If you have well-rotted dairy dressing, mix that with 

 the earth which is to be returned to its place, two or 

 three shovelfuls to a hill. If you have dressing that 

 is too fresh and lumpy to mix well with the earth, put 

 it in the bottom of the cavity. Wet it and stamp 

 it down thoroughly. Then replace the earth till it 

 is about level with the rest of the ground. Mix a 



