48 ON THE CULTURE 



Let the topping be the same as directed for 

 the Seed-bed in October ; if the soil is light and 

 rich, have a bank on the outside about a foot 

 or eighteen inches wide, and as high, or even 

 higher than the bottom of the box. This will 

 prove a great support to the plants ; be the 

 means of producing an abundant crop of fruit ; 

 and obviate the necessity of laying ; which must 

 otherwise be the case if this plan is not adopted, 

 or the boxes are unusually large. Should laying, 

 however, be preferred, great attention must be 

 paid to it, and the same method adopted as 

 prescribed for the early cucumber. 



Particular care is requisite in the culture of the 

 late cucumber to preserve it from the canker ; 

 the best means that can be adopted to prevent 

 this injury is to keep them thin of vine, and 

 always apply soft water. This should be given 

 in the morning, or, if not then convenient, never 

 later than three o'clock in the afternoon, when 

 the vines will have an opportunity of drying 

 before night : a fine day should always be taken 

 advantage of for this purpose, which will tend 

 considerably to accelerate their growth. Admit 



