CUCUMBER 



271 



placed under sashes or on boards ex- 

 posed to the sun, so that the seeds 

 get thoroughly ripe and hard before 

 being separated from the pulp. 



The first sowing to supply plants 

 for growing in frames is made in 

 little punnets or flower-pots, early in 

 the year, which are placed in hot 

 manure frames. When the seeds 

 germinate and are fit for potting off, 

 two plants are potted into a 6 in. 

 pot, and the whole replaced in the 

 frames, keeping them near the glass. 

 As soon as the frames to be planted 

 can be spared, they are moved aside, 

 and trenches cast out 5 ft. wide and 

 2 ft deep, and firmly filled with 

 • stable Htter. Over this some soil is 

 placed, and the frames set on again. 

 Another sowing is generally made 

 to succeed the first one ; but, as a 

 rule, there are seldom more than 

 two sowings made, and the second 

 is only sown because all the frames 

 are not empty at one time to be filled 

 by the first sowing. When the heat 

 is at a proper temperature for plant- 

 ing, a little more soil is introduced 

 into the frames, andonepotful (con- 

 taining two plants) is planted under 

 each sash, and one of the plants is 

 trained towards the front of the 

 frame and the other towards the 

 back. The sashes are then put on 

 and all is kept close for a few days, 

 and, if need be, a httle shading is 

 also given by strewing some litter 

 over the glass. Afterwards, until 

 the plants have fairly begun to grow, 

 no more ventilation is given than is 

 necessary to prevent scorching in the 

 case of bright sunshine. For several 

 weeks after having been planted 

 they are covered up at night with 

 litter, removing it next morning ; 

 indeed, this covering is not dis- 

 continued until the month of June. 

 When the plants have grown suffi- 

 ciently to come into bloom, they 

 are most attentively looked after in 



the way of regulating the growths, 

 pegging them down, and stopping 

 the lateral shoots at the joint beyond 

 the embryo fruit, and preventing an 

 accumulation of superfluous growths. 

 Throughout the day they are allowed 

 to have plenty of air during the 

 summer, but it is all taken off at 

 night ; in the morning the sashes 

 are tilted up a little, and as the heat 

 of the day increases they are still 

 further opened. 



Water is given in the morning 

 abundantly to those requiring it, 

 whilst those that are not dry have 

 simply a sprinkling overhead. It 

 is cold water from the tap that is 

 entirely used, and doubtless that is 

 the greatest drawback to Cucumber 

 growing with which the market- 

 gardener has to contend, as where 

 one or several acres are covered with 

 frames, it would be almost an im- 

 possibility to make tepid all the 

 water that would be required. Large 

 hogsheads, however, are sunk here 

 and there about the frame-ground, 

 and brick or cement tanks are 

 frequently used for containing \vater, 

 with which they are filled for the 

 next day's use. Guano-water is 

 sometimes given during the summer- 

 time, being applied through a fine 

 rose overhead. This application is 

 not only useful as a stimulant, but 

 when given overhead has been found 

 to be of material benefit in destroy- 

 ing or preventing red spider, as well 

 as invigorating old plants. In refer- 

 ence to woodlice, toads are put in 

 the frames to destroy them. Cucum- 

 bers require sunny weather to set 

 well, and in dull wet seasons they do 

 not thrive well, especially in the 

 earher part of the year. Should the 

 summer be hot and bright, the sashes 

 are shaded a little, and this is done by 

 strewing some rank litter over the 

 glass ; but many market-gardeners, 

 by way of economy of labour, paint 



