Training

There is no doubt that training near the glass of the frames upon a trellis, makes the cucumber vine more prolific, and more enduring. Indeed, if trained with proper care, the same vine may be made to bear throughout the year.

Hand Glass Crops

The first sowings for these crops must be in the last two weeks of March; to be repeated in the middle of April and May. The seed may be inserted in a moderate hot-bed under hand-glasses, or in the upper side of one of the frames already in production, either in pots as directed for the frame crops, or in the mould of the bed, to be pricked into similar situation when of four or five days' growth, inserting only two plants, however, in each pot. They must remain in the hotbed until of about a month's growth, or until they have attained four rough leaves; being then stopped as before directed they are fit for ridging out finally.

The ridges may be founded on the surface, or in trenches a foot and a half deep, in either case forming them of well prepared hot dung, three or four feet wide and two and a half high; the length being governed by the number of hand-glasses, between each of which three feet and a half must be allowed. The earth is to be laid on eight inches thick; when this becomes warm the plants may be inserted two, or at most three, under each glass.

Watering, airing, covering, etc, must be conducted with the precautions directed to be practised for the frame crops. The glasses should be kept on as long as possible without detriment to the plants; to prolong the time the runners must be made to grow perpendicularly; and still further to protract their continuance, if the season is inclement, the glasses may be raised on bricks. When no longer capable of confinement, the runners must be pegged down regularly, advantage being taken of a cool cloudy day to perform it in; but the glasses, even now, may be continued over the centre of the plants until the close of May or early June, with considerable advantage. Weeds must be carefully removed. Waterings should be performed as often as appears necessary.

If there be a scarcity of dung in the last week in April, or during May, circular holes may be dug, two feet in diameter, one deep, and four apart. These being filled with hot dung, trod in moderately firm, and earthed over about eight inches, are ready for either seeds or plants. With the shelter of the hand-glasses they will be scarcely later in production than the regular ridges.