
GROWING AND MARKETING CUCUMBERS 
@ Growing cucumber seed has had our-careful study for 
nearly 50 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 cultiva- 
tor going as long 
as you ean get 
through the rows. 
If under irriga- 
tion, water once 
a week lightly 
and always cul- 
tivate between 
irrigations until 
the crop is laid 
by. Keep the cu- 
cumbers picked 
off as fast as they 
reach the size de- 
sired, as if any 
are allowed _ to 
ripen the plants 
cease to set on 
more fruit. 
Keep plants . 
growing rapidly os a 
and insects have Colorado Cucumber (Mature Fruits) 
less chance to 
damage them. Be 
In picking to ship for slicing it is a good plan to divide 
the field into thirds and pick one-third each day. If under 
irrigation, 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 willing to pay a better 
price. There is less express and package expense 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 market up with quality. 
See page 45 for discussion concerning the mixing of cu- 

cumber and other cucurbits. 
D. D. T. CAUTION. Do not dust or spray using D. D. T. 
on beans, cucumbers, cantaloupes, or watermelons. Use the 
new Marlate Insecticide, listed Page 87. ® | 
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aan, D. V. Burrell Seed Growers Co., Rocky Ford, Colo. 
