388 



The Cucurbits 



mist. Use a short extension-rod and an upturned nozzle 

 so as to hit the underside of the leaves. 



Gabden spbinqtail (Sminthurus hortensis). — Adult cucum- 

 ber plants are often badly injured, especially in the South, 

 by a minute wingless jumping insect about 1/20 in. in length. 

 It. is dark purple, spotted with yellow. Control: Dust the 

 plants with tobacco dust or air-slaked lime when they first 

 come up and repeat the application in about a week if the 

 insects are still present. 



The cucumber is a staple garden and truck crop, of easy 

 culture when the simple conditions are met and the diseases 

 and pests are avoided or under control. In general prae- 



Seeds of cucumber 

 (X 1 2/3). 



166. Young cucumber plants (X about ^). 



tice, the seeds are planted directly where the crop is to 

 mature, but early and choice crops are grown from plants 

 started in frames or forcing-houses on inverted sods or 

 turves, in berry boxes that soon decay, in pots or in knock- 

 down boxes. Cucumber is a prime forcing crop for winter 

 and spring; for amateur work, the English forcing varie- 

 ties may be used, but the White Spine type is mostly grown 

 under glass for market in this country. 



Stages in the cucumber plant are shown in Figs. 165, 

 166, 167. In the last figure, a fruit is shown and also 

 staminate (or male) flowers^ which in the field are more 

 numerous than the pistillate (or fertile) flowers. 



