544 



VEGETABLE GARDENING FOR WOMEN. 



of giving too much water. But, of course, judg- 

 ment must be exercised. An occasional spraying 

 of the foliage with tepid water is of advantage in 

 keeping down the red spider. 



About once in ten days gi\ e a good dressing of 

 liquid manure. To procure this, take an old bar- 

 rel, bore some holes in the bottom and fill with 

 manure. Then run a few pailfuls of water through 

 as desired. 



The most popular varieties are Sion House, 

 Telegraph and Duke of Edinburgh. Fig. 2, 

 from a photograph, shows a typical fruit of each 

 variet}' as grown in the Cornell forcing house last 

 winter. The fruit of Duke of Edinburgh was twenty 

 inches long. As will be seen, this variety is too 

 large and coarse to be attractive. The average 

 length is sixteen to twenty inches, often more. 



Telegraph is a very handsome fruit, of excellent 

 quality. The spines, seen on Duke of Edinburgh, 

 are absent. It sells well when large fruits are 

 wanted, but for private families its large size is an 

 objection. 



For general culture, I regard Sion House as pre- 

 ferable to either of the others. It is of medium 

 size, averaging about fourteen inches in length, 

 smooth, handsome and very prolific. Fig. 3 

 shows the character of this variety. At the time 



the photograph was taken, many fruits had been 

 cut, and the vines continued in profitable bearing 

 for two months afterward. Near the upper left- 

 hand corner of Fig. 3 may be seen a large ill- 

 shaped fruit, the result of artificial pollination. 

 This leads me to note the fact that, unlike the 

 American cucumbers — White Spine, etc. — the Eng- 

 lish varieties require no artificial pollination under 

 glass.* If pollinated, the results are usually as 

 seen in the cut. Seeds are developed in the en- 

 larged portion and the fruit is rendered unsalable. 

 When left without interference, perfect seeds are 

 rarely, if -ever developed, and the fruits assume the 

 the regular form shown. 



To recapitulate : Successful culture of English 

 cucumbers demands a roomy house ; rich, porous 

 soil with good drainage ; a warm moist atmosphere, 

 plenty of water at the roots, frequent applications 

 of fertilizers, occasional spraying with warm water 

 to keep down insects, care in training, and selection 

 of the best varieties. With these conditions, good 

 results can be attained. 



Cornell LniversHy. W. M. Munson. 



* The whole subject of the fertilization of the cucumber fruit is an 

 exceedingly interesting and important one, particularly under 

 glass, and it is not well understood. The cucumber culture about 

 which Mr. Munson writes was undertaken for the purpose of in- 

 vestigating this point, and it will be continued for the same pur- 

 pose until definite results can be announced. — L. H. B. 



VEGETABLE GARDENING FOR WOMEN. 



BY ONE WHO LOVES THE GARDEN AND WORKS IN IT. 



cellar, save a 

 and set in the 



HERE is every reason why any- 

 one who has a piece of ground 

 large enough should have an 

 abundance of fresh vege- 

 tables and relishes. In the 

 spring, when you clean out the 

 few rutabagas or Swedish turnips 

 jarden ; in two or three weeks the 

 fresh young leaves will be large enough to pick for 

 a salad. Lettuce seed sown in a hot-bed or cold 

 frame can be transplanted and give you early let- 

 tuce, or if the old bed is not disturbed it generally 

 self-sows, so you can find plenty to transplant. 

 Early Silesian is a good variety. Green-fringed is 

 another good variety for home use, and ornamen- 

 tal. White Cabbage is tender and a fine variety, 

 forming solid white heads. 



Radish seed should be sown early. The Olive 

 Scarlet, Scarlet Turnip and White Turnip are all 

 good varieties. Sow at intervals. If the weather 

 is dry they get strong and pithy, but when there is 



plenty of rain, and they grow quickly, they are 

 delicious. If you have a large garden and the time 

 to weed it, sow more than your own family can use, 

 so you can divide with your less fortunate neigh- 

 bors. 



Garden peas are very hardy, and should be sown 

 early ; then in two weeks sow again ; also a late 

 variety, and in this way you will get a succession 

 of garden peas fit for a king to eat. Sow about 

 four inches deep in rows, the dwarf varieties one- 

 and-a-half to two feet apart. The tall varieties 

 should be three feet apart and brushed as soon as 

 they are hoed. American Wonder, one 'o f the 

 earliest of the wrinkled peas, is dwarf and very pro- 

 ductive. Little Gem is very dwarf ; a sweet and 

 excellent variety. The Champion of England is a 

 standard variety, and one of the sweetest and best 

 peas in cultivation ; it needs to be brushed, as it 

 grows five feet high. 



Do not plant beans too early, as they are tender 

 and are easily killed by frost. They do not require 



