310 VEGETABLE FORCING 
Fig. 107.—Cucumber seed production house. 
culls. The young plants must be given the best care in 
every respect in order to avoid injuries which are certain 
to be disastrous to the crop. Very few greenhouse plants 
are so sensitive to ill treatment as is the cucumber. 
The soil should contain a liberal proportion of sharp 
sand, if it is available, and plenty of decaying vegetable 
matter. It should be sterilized with steam, if necessary, 
to prevent the ravages of damping-off fungi. 
Several methods are employed in starting the plants. 
The seed may be sown in the beds where the crop is to 
mature, but this is not economical in the use of green- 
house space. 
Many successful growers sow in pots, which may vary 
in size from 3 to 6 inches. Some of the most extensive 
commercial growers contend that there is no advantage 
in using pots that are larger than 3% inches. It is likely 
that 4-inch pots are used for this purpose more frequently 
than any other size. Ordinarily, several seeds are sown 
in each pot and the plants are thinned to one or two, 
according to the preference of the grower and the size of 
