CUCUMBEK. 



205 



85°. Always water the plants with tepid water, and do 

 it about noon. Liquid manure, especially guano-water, is 

 very beneficial. In planting in the bed for fruiting, do 

 not break the ball of earth ; take them out of the pots 

 carefully at night, water gently, keep the sash down the 

 next day, and shade at noon-day, to keep them from 

 withering. It is necessary the beds should be shaded 

 with a mat, during the middle of the day. when the sashes 

 are kept down, until the plants get well established. 

 Stopping in the hot-beds is still more important than in 

 the open air. The temperature now must be be kept 

 between 70° and 90°, by external coatings of fresh dung, 

 if necessary. The shoots must be trained regularly over 

 the surface of the bed. Leave only two or three main 

 branches to each plant, removing the others as they ap- 

 pear. If the plants that have been stopped have extended 

 their runners three joints without showing fruit, they must 

 be stopped again. The vines should blossom in a month 

 from the time of sowing. Impregnate the pistillate or 

 female blossom (which may be known by its having fruit 

 attached), by taking the staminate blossom and placing its 

 centre within that of the pistillate blossom. They may be 

 gathered in about two weeks after impregnation. Three 

 plants are sufficient for one sash of the usual size. 



For Seed. — Choose some of the finest fruit of each variety 

 growing near the root. Do not raise the plants near other 

 varieties, or the seed will mix and deteriorate. Let them 

 remain until they turn yellow, and the footstalk withers ; 

 cut them off and keep in the sun until they begin to 

 decay ; then wash the seed from the pulp, and spread it out 

 to dry. It will keep eight or ten years, and is even better 

 when three or four years old, as the plants are less luxu- 

 riant and more productive. 



Use, — Cucumbers are r very popular, but not very 



