GROWING AND MARKETING CUCUMBERS 
@ Growing cucumber seed has had our careful study for over 
40 years. Some years our production of seed has been nearly 
half of that grown in the United States. A very large portion 
of the cucumber seed of the country is grown here in the 
Rocky Ford district and we come to you for your orders 
knowing that what we have to offer is not surpassed in quality. 
Cucumbers thrive best in a very rich, loamy soil, not con- 
taining too much sand. A rather heavy soil is preferable to 
sandy soil. The most successful growers fertilize heavily 
with barnyard manure, scattered evenly over the surface 2 to 
3 inches deep, disced thoroughly, then plowed under to depth 
of 6 to 8 inches, then thoroughly harrowed and floated. This 
gives an excellent seed bed. 
You can now plant with your garden drill rows 4 feet apart, 
drilling in about 3 pounds of seed per acre, covering the seed 
about 1 inch in depth. You can follow the drill mark and 
cultivate before the plants come up. Cultivate often. When 
the plants have four to six 
leaves thin to one plant every 
18 inches. Keep the cultivator Marketer (Early Green Market) 
going as long as you can get 
through the rows. If under irri- 
gation, water once a week 
lightly and always cultivate be- 
tween irrigations until the crop 
is laid by. Keep the cucumbers 
picked off as fast as they reach 
the size desired, as if any are 
allowed to ripen the plants 
cease to set on more fruit. 
Keep plants growing rapidly 
and insects have less chance to 
damage them. 
In picking to ship for slicing 
it is a good plan to divide the 
field into thirds and pick oné- 
third each day. If under irriga- 
tion, lay off the lands in short 
rows and run the water along 
the rows very lightly after each 
picking. 
Always cut off the cucumbers 
and handle very carefully. Do 
not ship any culls. Throw them 
away and ship only the first- 
class specimens. They look so 
much better — the demand is 
kept up — the consumer is will- 
ing to pay a better price. There 
is less express and package ex- 
pense and your reputation for a 
first-class pack is kept up, to 
the advantage of your bank 
account. 
When the market is high, 
many are tempted to ship sec- 
onds. Don’t do it; Keep the mar- 
ket up with quality. 
See page 44 for discussion 
concerning the mixing of cu- 
eumber and other cucurbits. 

D. D. T. CAUTION. Do not dust or spray using D. D. T. on 
beans, cucumbers, cantaloupes, or watermelons. We have been 
advised it will stunt growth of the plants. 
See page 90 for Special Prices to Market Growers 

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