IF RIGHTLY managed, the English cucumber is one of the most satisfactory of forcing vegetables, but, while not difficult to grow, any tendency to neglect on the part of the gardener is soon manifested. On the other hand, a little extra care is well repaid, both in appearance and in cash returns.

The ideal house for cucumbers is one which is large enough to allow the vines to attain a good size without interfering with each other, which has rather a flat roof, and which will allow ventilation without permitting a draft to strike the plants. A large house is also preferable to a small one, because the larger volume of air is not so quickly affected by outside conditions. In building a cucumber house, I should advise 18x60 feet as a good size. This will allow three-foot tables on each side, and a six-foot table in the center, with two three-foot walks, as shown in the diagram. (Fig. 1).

The center table may, if desired, be used for snap-beans, which require about the same conditions as cucumbers. With proper care, however, any forcing house of modern construction may be made to answer very well.

Any time after the first of September the tables may be prepared for the winter crop. In arranging the tables, it is well to leave a space of three or four inches on the back side for the escape of warm air next to the wall and the glass. Good drainage is of the first importance. To secure this, place about an inch and a half of charcoal, broken crockery, or "clinkers" from the furnace, on the bottom of the table. Next, put on a good layer of partially decayed sods; then fill to the depth of eight or ten inches with thoroughly prepared soil, consisting of two parts fibrous loam and one-part well-rotted stable manure, with sufficient sand to make it porous. No time spent in doing thoroughly the work of preparation is wasted.

The seed may be sown in the soil as prepared, or may be started in pots and afterward transplanted. I prefer the latter method. In either case, a crop of string beans may be taken from the tables before the cucumbers are large enough to interfere. The wise gardener will improve every opportunity to take a catch crop from the house.

The plants should be about four feet apart on the tables, thus giving abundant room for the lateral shoots, which should be trained "fan-shaped." For supports to which to train the vines, horizontal parallel wires, one foot apart, may be run the whole length of the house. The wires should be about a foot from the glass ; otherwise, the foliage will be subject to injury from cold draughts, which come in where the glass overlaps, and from scorching on very bright days. Instead of permanent wires for supports, some prefer frames, which may be more easily removed at the close of the season.

When the vines are about two feet long, the terminal bud of each should be pinched off, to induce the production of lateral shoots. The laterals, in turn, should be pinched back, and the vine made to grow symmetrically. As the fruits develop, the larger ones must be supported by strings, for if allowed to rest on the soil, they become ill-shaped and consequently unsalable, and if left free, the vines are likely to be torn loose.

Cucumber House.

Fig. 1. Cucumber House.

Fig. 2. Three Good Forcing Cucumbers.

Too much stress cannot be laid on the importance of giving attention to the details of watering and the general care of the house. A warm, moist atmosphere is essential to the best results.

A night temperature of 650 should be maintained, and in sunny weather the walks should be thor-oughly dampened night and morning. With proper precaution concerning drainage, there is little danger of giving too much water. But, of course, judgment must be exercised. An occasional spraying of the faliage with tepid water is of advantage in keeping down the red spider.

About once in ten days give a good dressing of liquid manure. To procure this, take an old barrel, bore some holes in the bottom and fill with manure. Then run a few pailfuls of water through as desired.

The most popular varieties are Sion House, Telegraph and Duke of Edinburgh. Fig. 2, from a photograph, shows a typical fruit of each variety as grown in the Cornell forcing house last winter. The fruit of Duke of Edinburgh was twenty inches long. As will be seen, this variety is too large and coarse to be attractive. The average length is sixteen to twenty inches, often more.

Telegraph is a very handsome fruit, of excellent quality. The spines, seen on Duke of Edinburgh, are absent. It sells well when large fruits are wanted, but for private families its large size is an objection.

For general culture, I regard Sion House as preferable to either of the others. It is of medium size, averaging about fourteen inches in length, smooth, handsome and very prolific. Fig. 3 shows the character of this variety. At the time the photograph was taken, many fruits had been cut, and the vines continued in profitable bearing for two months afterward. Near the upper left-hand corner of Fig. 3 may be seen a large ill-shaped fruit, the result of artificial pollination. This leads me to note the fact that, unlike the American cucumbers - White Spine, etc. - the English varieties require no artificial pollination under glass.* If pollinated, the results are usually as seen in the cut. Seeds are developed in the enlarged portion and the fruit is rendered unsalable. When left without interference, perfect seeds are rarely, if ever developed, and the fruits assume the the regular form shown.

To recapitulate : Successful culture of English cucumbers demands a roomy house; rich, porous soil with good drainage ; a warm moist atmosphere, plenty of water at the roots, frequent applications of fertilizers, occasional spraying with warm water to keep down insects, care in training, and selection of the best varieties. With these conditions, good results can be attained.

Cornell University. W. M. Munson.

• The whole subject of the fertilization of the cucumber fruit is an exceedingly interesting: and important one, particularly under glass, and it is not well understood. The cucumber culture about which Mr. Munson writes was undertaken for the purpose of investigating this point, and it will be continued for the same purpose until definite results can be announced. - L. H. B.