On The Management Required In The Culture Of The

Late Cucumber.





The proper time to sow for late cucumbers, that is, such as are grown in

boxes and lights, and have no necessity for linings, is from the middle

of March to the middle of April; and after that time seed may be put in

for the hand-glass.



Those that are sown in the middle of March will require stronger beds

than those sown a fortnight or three weeks afterwards, and should be

made from two feet six inches to three feet high; while the latter will

not require beds higher than two feet.



Let a trench be dug the size of the frame, about eighteen inches deep,

and if the soil is light and rich that is thrown out, the bed may be

formed of it; but if a strong loam it will not answer the purpose.



As soon as the bed is made tread it down well, make it even, and let it

have about six inches fall from the back to the front; then place on the

boxes and light; and when the heat rises, admit from one to two inches

of air. In about a week it will be necessary to put the mould in for the

hills in the proportion of a barrow-full to a light. This must be

levelled about an inch all over the bed to prevent the rank steam from

injuring the plants. On the following day they may be ridged out, when

the mould must be pressed with the hands close down round the roots of

the plants; and water applied, which should be at the same time

sprinkled regularly all over the bed. Add now plenty of air, night and

day, until the bed becomes perfectly sweet, which is generally the case

in about a week; after which they may be shut down at night.



Let the topping be the same as directed for the Seed-bed in October; if

the soil is light and rich, have a bank on the outside about a foot or

eighteen inches wide, and as high, or even higher than the bottom of the

box. This will prove a great support to the plants; be the means of

producing an abundant crop of fruit; and obviate the necessity of

laying; which must otherwise be the case if this plan is not adopted, or

the boxes are unusually large. Should laying, however, be preferred,

great attention must be paid to it, and the same method adopted as

prescribed for the early cucumber.



Particular care is requisite in the culture of the late cucumber to

preserve it from the canker; the best means that can be adopted to

prevent this injury is to keep them thin of vine, and always apply soft

water. This should be given in the morning, or, if not then convenient,

never later than three o'clock in the afternoon, when the vines will

have an opportunity of drying before night: a fine day should always be

taken advantage of for this purpose, which will tend considerably to

accelerate their growth. Admit a double quantity of air for a quarter

of an hour before watering; and while the nights continue cold, be

careful in keeping them covered up. In some seasons, when the weather is

inclement, it will be necessary to observe this even until Midsummer.



By strict attention to the foregoing directions, no danger need be

apprehended from the canker, as it generally proceeds from a cold chill;

suffering the plants to grow too thick of vine, which keeps them

continually moist; and not admitting a sufficient quantity of air

necessary to harden them.



In ridging out the plants, put two in small lights and three in larger

ones; and when the roots appear through the hills, add mould to them;

observing, that they will require moulding up much quicker than those

grown at the early season: in fact, after they have been ridged out

about a fortnight or three weeks, it will be necessary to mould them up

fully.



If the weather is fine, from one to two gallons of water for each light

will be necessary every two or three days.



Keep them pegged and laid about once a fortnight; and be particular also

in having them thin of vine, topped at the first joint; then allowing

them to run four, and afterwards topping them again at the first, as

before mentioned in the January sown plants. By observing these

directions, a good crop of fruit may be ensured, which will be ready to

cut in about a month or five weeks after they have been ridged out.