VINE CROP PROJECTS 157 



1. What importance should be given to earliness in the growing 



of cucumbers in the North for local market ? 



2. What temperatures are required in the growing of early plants ? 



W-VG:333. C:233. 



3. How may the plants be started ? W-VG : 332. L : 223. 



4. When should the seed be sown? 



6. How should the hotbed be made for starting early cucumber 

 plants? W:156. 



6. Describe the soU which will be most suitable for starting the 

 plants. 



6. Preparing the soil. — There are probably very few soils 

 if well drained, where cucumbers cannot be grown with entire 

 success. The matter of good drainage should be emphasized. It 

 is also important for the soil to be well supplied with humus and 

 plant food. 



Heavy clover sods, plowed down as early as possible in the spring, 

 furnish ideal physical conditions, and such soils are usually rich 

 in nitrogen. The land may be of such a character that it will 

 be unnecessary to apply manure in any considerable amount, 

 although this is unlikely. The most successful growers do not 

 take chances in this matter, and for this reason they use rotten 

 manure as liberally as the supply will permit. Manure should be 

 applied in the hills or in drills. A large shovelful or two in each 

 hill will be found highly beneficial. Perhaps manure may be 

 so plentiful that three or four shovelfuls may be applied in each 

 hill and mixed with the soil. In some sections cucumbers are 

 planted in drills and in this event the manure should be distributed 

 in furrows opened with a plow, some soil being plowed back on 

 the manure and mixed with a cultivator before drilling in the 



