20 
The Illustrated Guide for Amateur Gardeners 
Cucumber. 
Cultivation in Glass Houses. — The essential points in the successful 
cultivation of Cucumbers under glass may be summed up in their having a light and 
rich soil, and plenty of light and heat with abundant moisture and good drainage. 
Those who grow Cucumbers for market and profit, use well heated span-roofed houses, 
with large panes of glass, and long experience has shown these to he the most useful. 
Excellent results, however, may be had with differently constructed and smaller houses, 
provided the conditions are favourable, and a fair amount of attention is given. Make 
a first sowing of seeds towards the end of January, and, for succession, sow again in 
February, March, and April. Sow the seeds singly in small pots, and plunge in a good 
heat, keeping as close to the light as convenient, and when the plants have made the 
first pair of rough leaves shift into larger pots, and in about four or five weeks from 
the seed being sown they will he ready for planting on the mounds. In preparing 
the house for Cucumbers, it should first be thoroughly cleaned, and fitted with a 
wire trellis placed about one foot from the glass. Cucumbers delight in a light rich 
soil, and one of the best composts consists of light turfy loam, not broken too small, 
with about one half the quantity of well-decayed manure. Let the soil be placed 
in heaps and well warmed before the plants are inserted ; about a yard apart is far 
enough, and a stick should be placed to each at starting. As the plants advance 
in growth, a temperature of seventy to seventy-five degrees, or more on bright days, 
with a night temperature of at least sixty degrees, should he maintained, and they 
should be syringed morning and evening with tepid water, the walls and footways 
being kept moist, but air should only bo g von on warm days. As the roots force 
themselves through the mounds, fresh soil shorn ji l)p added, and care should be taken, 
after stopping the main shoot, to train the laterals a good distance apart, and to thin 
out from time to time, so as to get the full benefit of light. When the plants have 
set the first lot of fruit, liquid manure may be given twice or three times a week, 
and this may be continued whilst the plants are in bearing. Excellent crops may also 
be obtained in limited space by growing in large pots and training up, giving the 
plants a good top-dressing and liquid or artificial manure. 
Cultivation in Pits and Frames. — Where stable manure, leaves, and 
litter are plentiful, a good supply of Cucumbers may be had during the summer 
months without fire heat. Mix the fermenting materials well together, and turn 
over occasionally a week or two before using, wetting it to cause fermentation if too 
dry. For a pit, a bed of three feet, or a little more, in thickness will he sufficient, 
whilst for a frame, the bed should he quite a foot thicker, and should extend a foot 
beyond the frame all round. Tread dowm firmly and evenly, and place a small mound 
of soil under each light, nine inches or so from the glass and leave the sashes partly 
open for a few days, to let off any rank heat or steam. When the heat has subsided 
to eighty or ninety degrees, the plants may be inserted, and as growth advances, they 
should have air on warm ditys, and the shoots should he stopped and thinned to 
induco fruitfulness. Should there be an insufficiency of heat in the frame, it will he 
necessary to remove the outer portion of the bed, and replace with fresh fermenting 
material. 
Cultivation in the Open Air. — The seeds for this purpose should be 
sown about the first week in April. Plant out about the middle of May in a warm 
sunny position ; a few days before planting, dig holes or trenches about eighteen inches 
deep and three feet wide, and fill them with fermenting material to about a foot above the level ; tread down firmly, and cover with 
about nine inches of light rich soil. When the plants are inserted, they should he watered with tepid water, and covered with 
handlights, gradually admitting air as the plants become established, and removing the liandlights altogether, if the weather is 
favourable, towards the end of June. 
CUCUMBER— DANIELS’ DEFIANCE (early prolific). 
A white-spined variety of hardy, robust constitution, producing in great abundance very short-necked 
and elegant fruit of a rich dark green colour, from 18 to 24 inches in length, straight and uniform, 
and of the same thickness throughout; a magnificent variety for early Spring and Summer work, and 
first-class for market purposes and general use; is also a grand exhibition kind. 
W.S., sealed packets, Is. 6d. and 2s. 6d. 
EVIDENCE 
‘‘The Seeds I bad from you last yea” gave great satisfaction. 
The Defiance Cucumber was a complete success.’'— Mr. J. 
LAWRENCE, Pitlake. 
“The Duke of Edinburgh Cucumber Seed I had from you 
last year did remarkably well, and fruit thirty inches loner was very 
common. A friend of mine to whom I gave two plauls took Fiist Prize at 
our Local Show with very fine fiuit.”— Mr. G. WAT WOOD, Cannock. 
OF QUALITY. 
“The Duke of Edinburgh Cucumber last year was excellent. 
I grew them in a pig’s house, aud produced them over two feet in length, 
and they were unrivalled at our Local Hermitage Show.” -Miss 
BRAND, Hampstead Norris. 
“Please send me a Is. fid. Packet of Daniels’ Improved 
Tel«<?raph Cucumber Seed, as my servant highly approved of it.”— 
R. V. GOREHAM, Esq., Yoxford. 
