Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1869 — Cucumbers, and their Culture. [ARTICLE]

Cucumbers, and their Culture.

The cucumber should be regarded as a profitable farm crop, rather than as a vegetable, to be extensively cultivated in mar-ket-gardeps. To raise the early r varieties, we plant six or eight seeds in an inverted sod (about" four inches square) in a cold frame. When the plants have come but the rough leaf, and nre beginning to run, : they should be set out in goodground, and cultivated the same as thq late crop. In this way we avoid the numerous bugs and fleas, whose depredations cause so much annoyance. For an early out-door crop, select a rich, light, or mellow soil, free from clods or stones. After having it-thoroughly pulverized, draw rather deep furrows the ehtire length of the field, three and a half to four and a half feet apart (a good clovorsqd, plowed twice, is the best); then draw r crVss-furrows the Bame distance apart, At the intersection deposit a large shovelful of good stable or barn-yard manure. Having gone over the field thus, with a hoe draw good mellow ground upon the manure, making a hill, and level the top oil' nicely, discarding all lumps or stones; with the hoe t ben draw a small quantity •Tthe ground away, drop from six to ten seeds in a hill—planting about one or one and a half inches deep, and not on the manure. When they begin to show themselves, _keep all weeds, etc., hoed down, and the ground well stirred and cultivated, as the future crop depends, In a great

measure, on the strict observance of this nik. When th»y have run ea alto interfere with goixl cultivation, and the blossoms have set, discontinue the cultivation, as to continue It will only result in a diminished and unprofitable crop. For tbnc or four weeks they are Hablo to be infested will* a variety of inserts. The striped bugs aro their greatest enemies. They do not attack the plants until the dew has been dispelled by the action of the sun. As a wire remedy for these troublesome pests, we nse air-slackcd lime,' sprinkling the plants with as much as the dew will absorb before it lias disappeared, continuing the application until all signs of the bugs liaye disappeared, which is generally In one week, or a little longer. The same practice is prescribed for the destruction of fleas, etc. To save the seed, leave some large line ones, and, when ripe or turned yellow, take a tub, made by sawing a barrel in two, cut the seed out ol the cucumber,'putting the seed therein. In two or three weeks, after fermentation has taken place, wash the seed with water by half filling a bucket with the seed, and filling up with water, repeating the washing twice, stirring them up briskly with a stick. All the good seed will sink to the bottom of the bucket, and the light refuse seed will float on the top, when the water and refuse can be poured oil', leaving only good, plump seed, all of which are sure to germinate. After the water has been poured off, spread the seed on a board to dry, taking care to bring them in before a rain or before sundown,. When perfectly dry, put them into bags holding two to four quarts, carefully labeled, and put in a dry, cool place; we generally hang them on a nail, out of the reach of rats or mice, as they prove very destructive to this kind of seed.

Immense quantities of cucumbers are raised for pickling, and they almost seem a distinct kind, as they never attain a large size. They are planted late in the summer, just so as to be ready for pickling before frost, and when sold in a small way, bring from $1 to $2.50 per thousand, which makes it a very remunerative crop. Cucumbers should be picked before they begin to turn yellow, as it' injures their sale very much. The following aro the names of some of the most extensively cultivated Varieties: White Spine, a variety which is cultivated for market to a greater extent than almost all others; of medium size, and dark green, retaining its color when picked, longer than any other variety. Long Green, a well-known variety and much.esteemed ; is rather large ; an excellent table variety. The Gherkin is raised exclusively for pickling; small, and rather full of prickles, which make it unpleasant to handle. The Manchester Prize, and several others, are of various repute among gardeners and truckers. —Hearth and Home.