224 



GARDENING FOE TEE SOUTH. 



is much better than new, as the plants will run less to 

 vines and bear better. 



As soon as the vines get rough leaves, nip off the ex- 

 tremities, to make them branch out, and they will fruit the 

 sooner. This is called stopping. Cucumbers are very 

 subject in cool, dry seasons to attacks of insects, especially 

 the striped bug and the cucumber flea. Dry wood ashes 

 or air-slaked lime, dusted thoroughly upon the plants 

 when the dew is on, will generally repel them, and bring 

 the plants forward. But warm rains will soon bring up 

 the plants beyond the reach of the depredators, or, if not, 

 put over the hills boxes covered with millinet. Hoe fre- 

 quently, until the plants cover the ground. The Early 

 Cluster should have the hills about four feet apart. 



After the first planting, succession crops for pickles are 

 put in up to July near New York City, and in Georgia 

 until August. At the South, the melon worm makes its 

 appearance in July, and unless the cucumbers are gathered 

 while small, they will be injured by this insect. 



Cucumbers can be very much forwarded by planting 

 them in boxes covered over with glass. Two seven-by- 

 nine panes are large enough to cover a hill, and such hills 

 will not be troubled by the bugs, while the seed can be put 

 in four or five weeks earlier than otherwise. The seed can 

 also be planted in pots under a frame, or in a green-house, 

 to be turned out, when the weather gets favorable, into 

 the open air, and they will scarcely show they have been 

 moved. Or they can be raised wholly without removal, 

 in hot-beds made as directed in a former chapter. They 

 do best when started in pots jolaced in a small hot-bed, 

 and transplanted when the leaves are two or three inches 

 broad into new beds of a larger size. They must have 

 plenty of air, and be placed near the glass, or they will 

 be drawn up. If they begin to grow long-legged, give 

 them more air. The temperature of the seed-bed should 

 range between 65° and 85°. Always water the plants 



