The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-30
REPLY TO III. NJ. H."
Notes On Cucumber Culture

Notes On Cucumber Culture.
OF the various salad plants-lettuce, cell
cry, tomato, radish, cucumber, ETC., there
are few more highly and more generally rel
ished than the cucumber. 1t is a vegetable
Of great antiquity, mention being made of
it both in Numbers and in Isaiah.
In respect to nutritive qualities it is
doubtless, inferior to all the salad plants
In current use, but as an appetizer" 1t
may be regarded as second to none. DIR.
Abernethy regarded the cucumber as very
unwholesome, and recommended his pa
tients invariably to abstain from its use.
His radical views, however, have not pre-
vailed. While there may be few that
have to deny themselves the indulgence in
this delightful appetizer the large mass of
humanity find it a very harmless yegeta-
bic. If culled at the proper stage, sliced.
soaked and seasoned with salt, pepper and
vinegar there is no reason why 1T should he
productive of harm to any one. Eaten
after 1t has become old and stale, as often
nmes found in city markets, it may and
often does, no doubt, produce i'll conse-
quences. Yet watery and innutritious as
the cucumber is 1T requires, to produce SAT-
lSfactory crops, as fertile land as is required
oy the more nutritious beans and corn
and cabbage, sandy loan naturally fer
Tile IS the best adapted to the successful cul-
ovation of the cucumber. 1t is a quickly
maturing plant, and its food must be pre-
sented In shape ready for its imme-
ulate use-that is, if artificial fertilizer is
used 1t must be of kind that promptly
yIeIus up It's nltrogen-phosphori acid and
potash. Unfermented organic manure that
neeus TO undergo decomposition before it
yIeIds up its fertilizing elements cannot be
IeiIed on to give prompt and steady sup
pIy OF food. Dry weather may SO retard the
process OF decomposition as to cause the
pant TO suffer for food. A fertilizer COM
PoSed OF a high grade superphosDhate,
AaIuIs ana nitrate of soda constitutes tie
very best fertilizer for cucumhers. Where
I;;gahlc manure is used it is indispensable,
Il not already in the shape of a good old
compost that has been thoroughly fer
.LehLea with the aid of a good absorbent,
70 apply to the soil some considerable time
IA ADVANCE of planting time, SO that it can
;"ecolne deoomposed and be ready to give up
avs manurlal elements as soon as the Young
DanIS need the food. Such should be well
ttnocorporated with the soil to the depth OF
a.. or 10 inches, so that the roots will find
'He'r modlcum of food in every direction.
III IL Is the early crops of cucumbers that
ottng In big profits. and market gardeners
u, " Tue north and the south, and especially
suo former, go to considerable trouble and
expense aud take considerable risk to get the
earliest crop possible. Of course, near the
aye rage cities considerable quantities of Gu
ttIIinoers are grown in hot houses. With
Wis mode Of culture this arficla has nothing
70 do. '---' 90 ''OA0 N"' -0'"iOe
oro we shall only treat of this culture in the
open ground.
every very large proportion of cucumbers
so IN the south is from. planting the
V VVtm IN the open ground as soon as frost
Nh, Mn permit For pickle purposes and the
sr a.A OF those grown for shipment north
ia ~ 81 ground. small portion of the crop
Tr.s ro"n from plants that are raised in cold
az and transplanted when of sufficient
r. i,.,,. out before the plants begins to run.
1 4-'s'ie square pieces of inverted sod 3x4 or
md i nf Is laid close together in we'll
mus aae Coid frame. Two or three seeds is
sraI IN each piece Of sod, all well wat
IL ~ .a ana the sash kept on until termination
Soc 9cured. These are thinned 20 one plant
'1 SA'er they come up, These are taken