CUCUMBER 315 
They may be applied in large amounts without danger of 
injuring the plants. For example, a well-known Illinois 
grower sometimes uses 20 pounds of bone meal for a row 
of cucumbers 100 feet long. 
Fig. 111.—Cucumbers and narrow strips for their support. 
Nitrate of soda, employed in small amounts as a top- 
dressing, may be an advantage. Acid phosphate and 
potash salts should be used sparingly and cautiously, for 
the tender roots of the cucumber are easily injured by 
chemicals. Whatever the kind or character of the fer- 
tilizer employed, applications seem to be most effective 
rather late in the development of the crop, after there is 
more or less exhaustion of the supply of plant food in the 
soil when the crop was planted. The same principle is 
involved in the application of manure mulches, page 315 
which meet the food requirements of the plants when 
they are most in need of special nourishment. 
Soil preparation—The general directions of Chapters 
V and VI may be followed in the preparation of soils for 
the forcing of cucumbers. One of the most important 
considerations is to see that the bed is well supplied with 
organic matter. If stable manure has been used in large 
amounts for lettuce, it may be unnecessary to apply more 
manure immediately before planting cucumbers, es- 
