332 
VEGETABLE GARDENING 
climatic conditions. All the trucking sections of the South 
and of the Atlantic Coast are favorable to the production 
of the early crop, while the cooler summers of the North 
are well adapted to growing picklers. The plants are sensi- 
tive to frost as well as to extreme heat, but thrive under 
cooler conditions than the melons. Because of the 
short period required to mature the crop, there are very 
few sections in the United States where it cannot be 
grown successfully. 
434. Soils. — The light sandy soils are best for the early 
crop, if earliness is the chief consideration ; but yields are 
larger and the bearing period longer in the heavier soils. 
The cooler clay loams are often used for the late crop 
and for the growing of picklers. Whatever the type of 
soil, it should be moist but not wet. 
435. Source of seed. — Practically all of the seed is 
grown in this country. Careful selection is important. 
Since market requirements differ somewhat, this factor 
should be considered when buying or when saving seed 
from the home planting. 
436. Starting early plants. — Earliness is such an im- 
portant factor in securing remunerative prices that many 
growers start some of their plants under glass. Green- 
houses are most suitable for the purpose, although hot- 
beds, glass and cloth-covered frames are often employed. 
Formerly, inverted squares of sods were used extensively 
in which to start young plants. They are still popular 
with some growers. Rather thick, tough sods are cut in 
squares of about 6 inches, inverted and hollowed out to 
provide a receptacle for soil and seed. They furnish ex- 
cellent conditions, but are troublesome to prepare and 
are not so convenient to handle as earthen or paper pots, 
berry baskets and dirt bands. The pots or other devices 
should not be less than 4 inches in diameter and should 
be filled with a light, rich, porous, garden soil. It is an 
advantage to place an inch of rotten manure in the bot- 
