14 
COI.ORADO Agricultural Collkge 
One picking- of Cucumbers. On the right are Melon vines; Celery on the left. 
doors about the first week in June. But the others should be 
started in a hotbed the latter part of April and transplanted to 
the field about the 15th of June. This group of plants will not 
endure having their roots disturbed so they must be started 
in paper or clay pots, dirt bands, or on squares of inverted 
sod. Four or five seeds should be planted in each pot and when 
these have come up, all but the two best are thinned out. When 
ready to set in the field the whole mass of soil around the roots is 
planted so as to leave the root system intact. If clay pots are 
used the mass of soil containing the plants may simply be knocked 
out of the pot and set in its proper place. If paper pots or dirt 
bands are used these should be torn away when the plants are set 
out. This method of handling these crops lengthens the growing- 
season for them considerably and gives them a better chance to 
mature. 
By starting the plants as described above we had very good 
success with Emerald Gem and Montreal Market Muskmelons, 
Hubbard Squash, and Small vSugar or pie pumpkins. Early White 
Bush and Golden Crookneck Squashes (both summer varieties) 
also did well. 
Several varieties of cucumbers have been grown, of which 
the following are desirable: Davis Perfect, Everbearing, Cool and 
Crisp and White Spine. 
