98 PIGTOBIAL PEAGTICAL VEGETABLE GROWING. 



There is not much art in training and pruning Cucumbers, but a 

 little judgment is necessary in order to prevent the space from 

 becoming overcrowded, and to have it well covered with fruiting 

 shoots. Cucumbers need no artificial setting, unless seed is required. 

 In order to cover the wires quickly, let the leading shoot go up until 

 it is nearly at the top and then stop it. While it has been extending, 

 side shoots wdll have pushed freely, and may be trained right and 

 left. Short breaks from these, termed sub-laterals, wall show^ in 

 abundance if the atmosphere is warm and damp, and will produce 

 fruit. Each bearing shoot may be stopped at the first leaf beyond 

 the fruit. 



It is well to cut the Cucumbers before they have sw^ollen to a very 

 large size, in order to ensure a continuous supply. When the plants 

 are in full bearing liquid manure may be given wdth advantage. 



There are perhaps more Cucumbers grown on hotbeds than in 

 houses. They cannot be had quite so early, but otherwise they are 

 just as good. If a bed is made in winter it has to be a very large 

 one, and therefore a great deal of manure is w^anted. If made up in 

 spring much less will suffice. In either case the same care must be 

 taken to turn and sw^eeten the manure and to build up the bed firmly 

 and evenly. The lights should not be put on until a candle will burn 

 within the frame, thus showing that the air is sw^eet. 



It is well to stop a young plant intended for a frame at the first 

 rough leaf, as this wdll induce it to push other growths, and these can 

 be taken up the frame, or trained from the centre towards the corners 

 if the Cucumber is planted in the middle. In either case the 

 Cucumber should be planted on a mound of lumpy soil, and the 

 growths stopped 1 foot from the extremity of the frame. Fruiting 

 shoots W'ill then form in abundance. It is necessary to give a little 

 attention to thinning, in order to prevent the space becoming over- 

 crow^ded. 



Cucumber plants will not, as a rule, canker at the collar if the soil 

 is lumpy ; should a sign of this disease show itself, rub in soot and 

 lime. Nor will they sufi'er from red spider if the atmosphere is kept 

 humid. Aridity will bring the enemy out in strong force. There 

 are complaints sometimes of bitterness in Cucumbers, but I think 

 these are the most common when the plants lag. If they are 

 pushed along briskly with plenty of heat and moisture, and sustain 

 no check, either from want of heat and moisture or from the attacks 

 of enemies, they will be sw^eet. 



Outdoor Cucumbers are sometimes planted out betw^een Peas in 

 June. It is not a bad plan, because the Peas give shade and cool- 

 ness until the Cucumbers have got a good hold. If raised similarly 

 to the others and planted out, like Vegetable Marrow^s, after being 

 w^ell hardened, in good, Avell-tilled soil, they usually thrive, but a dry 

 spot will not do, because red spider will run riot over them. 



Two of the best indoor Cucumbers are Improved Telegraph and 

 Lockie's Perfection. Two of the best outdoor sorts are King of the 

 Ridge and Stockw^ood. 



