CUCUMBER 311 
Fig. 108.—Special White Spine cucumbers grown for seed. 
the pots. It is not unusual for the seed to be sown in 
2 or 2%4-inch pots, the plants being shifted later to 3% or 
4-inch pots before they are set in the beds. They should 
not be entirely filled with soil; a little space at the top 
will facilitate watering. If they are placed on raised 
benches, they should stand on a layer of sand, sifted coal 
ashes or other material to prevent too rapid drying out. 
If additional precaution is considered necessary, the pots 
may be plunged in soil which is kept moist. It is an ad- 
vantage to shift the plants once or twice before they are 
planted in the beds. Turning the pots, changing location 
of plants and allowing more space between the pots may 
be an advantage. 
The commonest method is to sow the seed in beds or 
probably in flats. Many growers sow broadcast, so that 
the seeds are fairly close together. Others prefer to sow 
in rows, which vary from 1% inches to 3 inches apart. 
Whatever the method, the seeds need not be more than 
barely covered with soil. One benefit in using flats is 
that they may be covered with glass which will protect 
the seed from mice, conserve the moisture in the seed bed 
and aid in providing a higher temperature for germina- 
tion. In a week’s time or less the seedlings will be up 
and should be promptly transplanted to pots of sizes 
