I062 THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



keep them within bounds, there is not only a check but a great 

 loss of fruit. 



Very fair crops of Cucumbers are grown in frames placed on 

 hot-beds made of stable litter trodden firm, and several inches 

 of good soil arranged thereon. It is seldom wise to make up a 

 hot-bed before the end of March or early in April. If snow 

 falls in quantity it seems to take the heat out of the bed, and 

 all the plants in the frame are killed or seriously crippled. 

 About three- seeds may be sown in the centre of each light, 

 pulling one plant out if they all germinate, keeping a moist 

 growing atmosphere, and always closing the frame with a good 

 sun-heat and plenty of moisture early in the afternoon. Insect 

 pests • will- not be troublesome if this is followed out, but should 

 Aphides appear fumigation will oust them. 



For either house, pit, or frame culture Telegraph and Lockie's 

 Perfection are the most desirable ; Stockwood Long Ridge is 

 the best for outside, being quite hardy if sown in May. 



Care should be taken in making up soil for Cucumbers that 

 it does not contain any of the pests popularly known as 

 Eelworms. These are very destructive, and when once they 

 attack nothing will save the plants. If plants are found to be 

 doing badly (stunted) without any apparent cause, one should be 

 lifted, and if wart-like growths are found upon the roots then the 

 grower will be aware of the existence of Eelworms, which are found 

 very abundantly in some soils, feeding upon the roots of grasses. 

 They are therefore readily transported in potting and other 

 composts. See " Eelworms " in the Chapter " On Pests Generally." 



A Mildew scientifically known as Peronospora cubensis, occasion- 

 ally is found upon the leaves of Cucumbers and their allies, and 

 its progress is rather difficult to arrest. Spraying with potassium 

 sulphide in the proportion generally recommended may be tried. 



Endive. 



Endive is seldom in great 



demand until the supply of 



Lettuce is exhausted, and, like 



Chicory, it is most useful for 



winter salading. If very early 



Endive is required, viz., in the 



autumn, seed may be sown in May 



thinly in drills ift. apart, in rich, 



Fig. 68 i. —Curled-leaved porous soil, and the plants after- 



IVF " wards thinned out to ift. apart in 



the rows. For main crops or 



winter supplies, the middle of July is a suitable time to sow, 



thinning out the young plants as stated above, and encouraging 



rapid growth by frequent moving of the surface-soil and an 



occasional soaking with weak liquid manure. Various systems 



