THE CUCUMBER. 26l 



where there is a fruit swelling off. Never allow the 

 growths to run beyond one or two joints without stop- 

 ping them. This treatment carefully carried out will 

 keep them always in a vigorous and fruitful condition, 

 and producing fine straight cucumbers beautifully 

 covered with bloom, and the flower fresh at the end 

 of each when ready to cut. As the season advances, 

 and they have been in bearing for some time, remove 

 by degrees the older growths and foliage, and train 

 younger ones into their places. This should be dili- 

 gently seen to the whole season, in order to keep the pit 

 full of young bearing growths and healthy leaves, with- 

 out which a regular supply of cucumbers cannot be 

 maintained. Under such treatment I have invariably 

 had these early plants as healthy and fruitful in the end 

 of September as in May, and have seldom ever been 

 troubled with insects or disease. 



After the first week of June fresh linings are unneces- 

 sary in the southern half of England, but in more north- 

 ern districts it is necessary to attend to them a little 

 later. In the hottest weather, especially when such has 

 been preceded by a continuation of dull days, a slight 

 shadle in the middle of the day is sometimes beneficial. 

 "When it is desired to have these plants healthy and 

 bearing after September, it is necessary to apply fresh 

 linings, or mildew will soon destroy them. 



The foregoing directions, I trust, will be sufficient for 

 those who can only command a brick pit and heat from 

 fermenting material with which to produce spring cu- 

 cumbers. Those who only grow them in summer will 

 find them so accommodating for four or five months 

 of the year that directions specially for that season 

 would be a waste of words. For any one who has a 



