Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1869 — Culture of the Cucumber. [ARTICLE]

Culture of the Cucumber.

The . hardiest varieties—in fact, all the American or oommon sorts—will produce a medium and late crop, if the seed is sown in the open ground in well prepared hills, as soon as the soil becomes sufficient ly warm. In this, latitude it Is useless to plant in the open ground until nearly the first of June. Make rich hills of wellrotted manure, two feet in diameter—a large shovelful of manure nt least, to each hill—and plant a dozen or more seeds, covering half an inch deep. When all danger from insects is over, pull up nil but three or four of the strongest plants. The middle of June is early enough to plant for pickling. Make the hills about

•ix feet apart. For e*rly Cucumber* the hot bed i* necOMny; but the almpleat end surest way to produce * tolerably early crop of tie be*t kind*, 1* where it Is designed to place a hill, dig a hole about eighteen Inches deep and three feet across, Into this put a barrow of fresh manure, and cover with six inches of earth; in the center of thj» plant the seed and cover with a araaii box-like frame, on the top of which place a couple of lights of glass. When the plants grow keep the earth drawn tip to the stems. Water and give air as needed; and if the sun appears too strong give the glass a coat of whitewash. By the time the plants fill the frame it will be warm enough to let them out, and the box can be removed ; bnt if it should continue cold, raise the box by setting a block under each corner, and let the plants run under. The fourth of July is the time we always remove the boxes or frames. Always pick the fruit as soon as large enough, as allowing any to remain to ripen injures the fruit of the vine. One pound of reed is sufficient for an acre.— Vick's Catalogue.