July  30,  1903. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
and  tlie  Canaries,  the  largest  quantity  being  of  Spanish  growth. 
A  few  new  Pears  from  Paris  ha\m  arrived,  but  the  supplies  will 
be  short  for  a  Aveek  or  two  yet,  though  there  are  plenty  to  come. 
The  Pineapples  have  been  raised  in  St.  Michaels,  a  centre 
once  famous  for  its  Oranges,  but  noAv  devoted  to  pineries  on  a 
most  extensive  scale.  It  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  deal  concisely 
Avith  the  foreign  fruit  import  statistics  because  of  the  imperfect 
nature  of  the  tabulations.  For  instance,  last  Aveek,  OA'er  120,000 
packages  Avere  entered  as  “unenumerated.”  This  is  sufficient  to 
cast  discredit  upon  the  whole  of  the  items  furnished  officially  by 
the  Customs  House  authorities. 
The  Belgian  Grapes  are  more  conspicuous  this  year  than  ever. 
We  are  receiving  of  them  from  three  to  four  tons  a  week,  the 
fruit  being  glass-house  groAvn  and  put  up  in  fancy  baskets.  In 
the.se  notes  reference  is  made  to  foreign  fruit  only,  though,  in 
addition  to  green  Figs,  Melons,  and  Tomatoes,  Ave  imported 
25  tons  of  Grapes  from  the  Channel  Islands  last  Aveek. 
Cucumber  Culture  for  Market. 
Winter  Treatment. 
Cucumbers  are  noAv  groAA  n  for  market  in  such  enormous  quanti¬ 
ties,  during  the  summer  .sea.son  at  any  rate,  that  the  price  frequently 
falls  to  an  unremunerative  point.  As  the  cold  Aveather  draAvs 
on  the  prices  rise  again,  and  though  the  demand  is  seldom  very 
brisk  during  the  late  autumn,  yet  in  the  NeAv  Year  and  early 
spring, good  pricesareoftenobtained.  The  prices  cf  tAventy  to  thirty 
years  ago,  hoAA'ever,  Avhen  “Cues”  often  made  tAventy  to  thirty 
shillings  per  dozen  in  the  early  part  of  the  season,  are  neA’er 
obtained  now,  and  iirobably  never  will  again.  In  these  days,  if 
a  grower  gets  ten  or  twelve  shillings  a  dozen  for  his  earliest  house 
of  fruits,  he  thinks  he  is  doing  very  Avell ;  and  often  it  may  only 
realise  six  or  eight  shillings  a  dozen. 
A  summer  crop  of  “  Cues  ”  co.sts  considerably  less  to  groAV 
than  a  Avinter  one.  This  is  not  only  due  to  the  great  difference 
in  the  amount  of  fuel  required  to  maintain  the  necessary  tempera¬ 
ture,  but  in  a  comsiderable  degree  also  tO'  the  equally  greater  pro¬ 
ductiveness  of  the  plants  themselves,  summer  groAvn  plants 
possessing  more  vigour  and  strength  than  the  most  skilfully 
groAvn  of  those  cultivated  to  fruit  during  the  Avinter ;  and  for  one 
fruit  cut  from  the  latter,  a  groAver  can  often  cut  four  or  six  Avhen 
the  days  are  long  and  the  solar  heat  abundant.  It  is  usele.ss  to 
attempt  to  secure  a  crop  of  “  Cues  ”  in  the  Avinter  unless  there  is 
a  house  at  command  in  Avhich  a  temperature  of  GOdeg  to  GSdeg 
can  be  steadily  maintained.  Even  in  the  mildest  Aveather,  a 
gentle  bottom  heat  is  absolutely  necessary,  for  the  plants  will 
not  thrive  on  a  cold  bed. 
Winter  “  Cues  ”  cannot  be  profitably  groAvn  Avithin  a  couple 
cf  miles  of  any  large  town,  on  account  of  the  smoke.  The  soil 
must  also  be  of  a  suitable  character ;  “  Cues  ”  do  not  thrive  to 
any  extent,  or  for  any  length  of  time,  in  a  very  light  soil,  the 
best  material  being  a  fairly  substantial  loam  of  a  moderately 
turfy  description,  preferably  that  Avhich  has  been  stacked  up  for 
some  time,  AA'ith  about  one-third  of  its  bulk  decayed  manure. 
Some  groAvers  advise  cuttings  for  Avinter  work,  but  I  prefer  rais¬ 
ing  plants  from  seed,  which  should  be  soaau  the  beginning  of 
September;  they  Avill  then  be  ready  for  planting  the  second  Aveek 
in  October.  From  thence  you  should  be  cutting  “Cues”  by  the 
XeAv  Y"ear. 
The  plants  .should  be  put  out  3ft  apart ;  a  crack  of  air  should 
be  given  the  first  Aveek  or  tAvo  after  planting,  if  the  Aveather  is 
bright.  When  the  plants  are  threei-parts  up  the  roof,  the  point 
should  be  taken  out ;  the  lateral  groAvth  should  then  be  stopped 
at  the  third  joint.  Do  not  let  the  plants  bear  fruit  on  these 
shoots,  but  Avait  until  the  secondary  groAvths  from  them  shoAV 
fruit,  and  then  stop  them,  leaving  one  leaf  beyond  the  young 
“Cues.”  Water  very  carefully.  A  nice,  moist,  groAving  atmo¬ 
sphere  mu.st  be  constantly  maintained.  Keep  the  glass  clean, 
and  take  care  not  to  overcrop  the  plants  at  any  time. 
Summer  Treatment. 
I  will  noAV  deal  Avith  the  summer  treatment.  Any  of  the  first 
few  Aveeks  in  the  year,  say  from  the  1st  of  January  to  the  begin¬ 
ning  of  March,  is  as  good  a  time  as  any  to  commence  the  culture 
of  Cucumbers.  When  the  plants  are  raised  about  this  time  they 
get  the  benefit  of  the  constantly  increasing  daylight  and  sunshine, 
and  AA’ith  ordinary  care  and  attention  they  consequently  groAV 
right  on  Avithout  a  check  of  any  kind.  As  a  rule  they  make  far 
more  vigorous  and  productive  plants  than  any  that  are  groAvn 
during  the  autumn,  and  AA’hich  have  to  undergo  the  ordeal  of  the 
short,  dark,  and  sunless  days  of  Avintcr  just  at  the  time  Avhen 
they  ought  to  be  getting  into  a  fully  productive  condition.  The 
consequence  is.  that  though  “  Cues  ”  produced  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  spring  and  through  the  summer  seldom  if  ever  realise 
such  high  prices  as  the  Avinter  and  early  spring  fruits,  yet  they 
are  often  more  profitable  in  the  end,  OAving  to  their  much  greater 
1C  3 
procluctivene.ss.  as  Avell  to  the  much  smaller  quantitj’  of  fuel 
required  to  produce  theiiA. 
The  best  structure  for  “  Caac  ”  groAviiig  is  a  span-roofed  house 
about  12ft  Avide,  and  from  Gft  to  7ft  high  in  the  centre.  In.side  of 
this  a  4^in  brick  AA-all  should  be  built  at  each  side,  making  the  bed 
2^ft  Avide.  A  roAV  of  hot  Avater  piping  should  run  through  the 
bottom  of  the  bed — a  floAV  if  possible,  Avith  a  A’alve,  that  tlio 
heat  can  be  turned  on  or  off  Avhen  required.  'Phe  bed  shouhl  then 
be  filled  up  Avith  littery  manure,  or,  if  procurable,  tan,  Avhich  suits 
the  purpose  admirably.  On  this  bed  the  .soil  should  be  placed. 
The  soil  should  not  bo  broken  up  finely:  the  rougher  the  better, 
alAA’ays  using  tAvo-thirds  loam,  and  one-third  manure,  Avith  a  good 
sprinkling  of  soot  and  bonemeal.  I  think  bonemeal  ono  of  the 
best  feeders  for  “Cues”  you  can  get,  but  it  must  be  given  to 
them  at  the  commencement,  as  it  is  a  sIoav  feeder,  and  there  are 
other  manures  more  active  Avhich  can  be  applied  later  on. 
The  soil,  after  being  Avell  mixed,  should  be  placed  on  the  bed. 
Some  groAvers  put  it  in  mounds  ;  I  ahvays  put  it  in  a  continuous 
ridge,  Avhich  I  believe  to  be  better  for  the  plants,  and  saves  a 
good  deal  of  labour.  In  this  AA’ay  “Cues”  thrive  capitally,  as 
the  gentle  bottom  heat  ascending  through  the  tan  or  littery 
manure  keeps  the  roots  in  a  healthy  and  active  condition,  and 
Avith  plenty  of  heat  and  moisture  above,  and  proper  attention 
otherAA'ise,  the  plants  Avill  succeed. 
For  raising  the  seed  you  Avant  a  nice  light  soil  Avith  a  little 
leaf  soil  added.  This  should  be  made  moi.st  (but  not  Avet),  so  that 
the  seeds  aaIU  not  require  any  Avater  until  they  have  germinated. 
The  seed  should  be  soavii  in  a  box,  three-parts  filled  Avith  soil,  then 
lay  the  seeds  an  inch  apart.  Put  a  good  sprinkling  of  soil  on, 
then  plunge  the  box  in  a  bed  Avith  a  gentle  bottom  heat.  About 
a  Aveek  after  the  seeds  have  come  up,  they  should  be  carefiilly 
potted  into  3in-pots,  and  again  plunged  in  the  bed.  When  they 
haA'e  made  three  or  four  rough  leaA’es  they  .should  be  planted  out 
into  the  bed.  Plant  them  so  that  the  seed  leaA'es  are  just  above 
the  surface  of  the  soil.  A  good  distance  for  the  plants  is  3ft 
apart. 
After  the  plants  are  established  they  Avill  require  a  good  deal 
of  attention  ;  in  fact,  you  must  not  neglect  them  in  any  Avay, 
for  if  you  do  they  Avill  v’ery  scon  tell  tales. 
A  great  mistake  is  often  made  in  stopping,  or  pinching-out 
the  point.s  of  the  plants  too  soon.  Of  course,  Avhen  groAvn  in 
frames  this  must  be  done  in  order  to  get  the  tAvo  or  three  shoots 
necessary  for  each  plant ;  but  under  house  culture  it  is  much 
better  to  let  the  plants  groAV  tAvo-thirds  of  the  Avay  up  the  rafters 
before  taking  out  their  points.  After  this  is  done"  they  Avill  shoot 
out  from  the  axils  of  the  loAver  leaves  quite  naturally.  These 
shoots  should  be  stopped  at  the  second  joint:  in  fact,  from  noAv 
on,  all  shoots  should  be  stopped  at  the  second  joint  and  alloAved 
to  fruit.  The  plants  groAv,  much  stronger  at  this  time  of  the 
year,  and  are  therefore  well  able  to  bear  a  crop  of  fruit  on  the 
fir.st  lateral.  Directly  the  point.s  of  these  lateral  shoots  are  pinched 
out  the  fruits  belo-Av  will  begin  to  SAvell,  and  Avill  soon  be  in 
bloom.  There  is  no  necessity  to  fertilise  the  blooms  of  “Cues” 
unless  seed  is  Avanted.  Once  having  floAvered  and  set,  the 
“  Cues  ”  SAA'ell  v’ery  fast  in  a  Avarm  moi.st  atmosphere,  and  by  the 
time  the  fruit  is  ready  to  cut  other  young  shoots  Avill  have  pmshed 
from  each  of  the  fir.st,  and  these  must  be  stopped,  allowed  to  fruit, 
and  then  to  produce  another  lot  cf  groAvths  again.  HoAvov’er, 
do  not  alloAV  these  young  .shoots  (Avhich  quickly  multiply  if  left 
alone)  to  become  too  numerous,  for  if  they  get  at  all  croAvded 
they  Avill  ahso  become  Aveak,  and  are  then  unable  to  bear.  Thin 
them  out  moderately  from  time  to  time,  but  avoid  making  a  big 
clearance  all  at  once.  Little  and  often  is  the  best  rule. 
All  that  are  retained  must  be  securely  tied  to  the  Avires,  using 
the  best  raffia.  All  shoots  that  are  carrying  fruit  should  be  tied 
on  each  side  to  pi’event  the  groAvth  breaking  aAvay  from  the  Avires. 
When  the  plants  are  in  full  groAvth  and  bearing,  liquid  manure 
should  be  given  them  once  a  Aveek.  Almost  anj’thing  Avill  do, 
and  the  more  the  liquid  is  varied  the  better.  Frequent  top-di’ess- 
ings  should  be  given,  or  so  often  as  the  roots  Avork  through  on  to 
the  surface.  I'liis  is  most  important,  and  for  this  a  good  heap  of 
prepared  .soil  should  be  kept  on  hand,  and  in  cold  Aveather  it  nmst 
be  AA’armed  by  keeping  it  inside  the  house. 
A  mixture  of  fresh  loam,  decayed  manure,  Avith  a  sprinkling 
of  soot  and  a  good  artificial  fertiliser  Avill  ansAver  Avell.  Apply 
from  lin  to  2in  of  this  at  a  time.  A  good  plan  preA'ious  to  top- 
dres.sing  is  to  Avater  Avith  a  weak  solution  of  ammonia.  This  brings 
the  roots  to  the  top,  Avhen  they  can  be  Avell  covered  Avith  the 
fresh  compo.st,  and  the  plants  are  greatly  invigorated  thereby. 
“Cues”  enjoy  a  high  temperature,  and  as  a  rule,  the  hotter 
the  Aveather  the  better  they  thrive,  provided  only  that  they  have 
moisture.  At  the  same  time,  to  have  heat  Avithout  moisture 
spells  ruin,  and  care  must  be  taken  to  keep  the  plants  in  a  con¬ 
stantly  moi.st  condition  above  and  bcloAV.  All  available  surfaces 
must  be  damped  doAvn  three  or  four  times  daily,  according  to  the 
AA'eather,  alloAving  no  part  of  the  hou.se  to  remain  dry  for  any 
length  of  time.  If  this  is  done  regularly  the  syringo  Avill  only 
require  to  be  used  occasionally. — (Read  before  the  Cardiff 
Gardeners’  Association  on  Febimary  24  by  Mr.  W'alleh,  Cucumber 
groAver  to  Messrs.  Xurton  and  Co.,  Dynas  Powis,  Glamorgan.) 
(To  be  conlinued  ) 
