332 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



climatic conditions. All the trucking sections of the South 

 and of the Atlantic Coast are favorable to the production 

 of the early crop, while the cooler summers of the North 

 are well adapted to growing picklers. The plants are sensi- 

 tive to frost as well as to extreme heat, but thrive under 

 cooler conditions than the melons. Because of the 

 short period required to mature the crop, there are ver)' 

 few sections in the United States where it cannot be 

 grown successfully. 



434. Soils. — The light sandy soils are best for the early 

 crop, if earliness is the chief consideration ; but yields are 

 larger and the bearing period longer in the heavier soils. 

 The cooler clay loams are often used for the late crop 

 and for the growing of picklers. Whatever the type of 

 soil, it should be moist but not wet. 



435. Source of seed. — Practically all of the seed is 

 grown in this country. Careful selection is important. 

 Since market requirements differ somewhat, this factor 

 should be considered when buying or when saving seed 

 from the home planting. 



436. Starting early plants. — Earliness is such an im- 

 portant factor in securing remunerative prices that many 

 growers start some of their plants under glass. Green- 

 houses are most suitable for the purpose, although hot- 

 beds, glass and cloth-covered frames are often employed. 

 Formerly, inverted squares of sods were used extensively 

 in which to start young plants. They are still popular 

 with some growers. Rather thick, tough sods are cut in 

 squares of about 6 inches, inverted and hollowed out to 

 provide a receptacle for soil and seed. They furnish ex- 

 cellent conditions, but are troublesome to prepare and 

 are not so convenient to handle as earthen or paper pots, 

 berry baskets and dirt bands. The pots or other devices 

 should not be less than 4 inches in diameter and should 

 be filled with a light, rich, porous, garden soil. It is an 

 advantage to place an inch of rotten manure in the bot- 



