The art of promoting the growth of the cucumber and melon: in a series of directions for the best means to be adopted; in bringing them to a complete state of perfectionWatkins, Thomas
Science
The art of promoting the growth of the cucumber and melon: in a series of directions for the best means to be adopted; in bringing them to a complete state of perfection
Watkins, Thomas
Cucumbers; Melons
It is an excellent plan, if the ground is disengaged two or three months
previous to the time it is wanted for the cucumber bed, to mark it out
six feet wide, and put in six inches of dung or leaf mould, and lay it
up in ridges of two feet six inches in width, and a foot in depth. When
wanted for use, level it down, and dig a trench three feet wide for the
dung, levelling it as before directed. This method, if it can be
conveniently attended to, is certainly preferable to the other, as it
allows an opportunity of incorporating the dung and mould together. If
hot dung cannot be easily obtained, it may be dispensed with, provided
the seed is not sown earlier than the month of May.
Let the ground be ridged up as before directed, and when wanted for use,
level it down; then mark out six feet wide beds for each, and three feet
alleys; afterwards place the line to the middle of the ridge, and mark
out three feet six inches, which must be the distance from the centre of
each glass. Take out two spadesful of the mould, level it on the ridge,
and put one spadeful of light rich earth in its place, for the purpose
of receiving the seed. If the natural soil is light and rich, take out
one spadeful, making it round and hollow, about eight inches wide; then
sow the seed from eight to twelve under each glass. If the mould is dry,
apply water to the seed, place the glasses on, and shut them down close,
observing as they become dry, to sprinkle them with water.
After the seed has been up about a week, it will be necessary to thin
them out, in the proportion of six plants to each glass; and in the week
following reduce them to three, which is the proper number to be grown
together finally for a crop. When they are thus divided, put some light
mould round the stems of the plants, which should be done at two
different times, allowing a week to elapse between each application, and
filling up the hollow that is left.
As soon as they have made two rough leaves, top them at the second
joint. This is a plan which may be adopted with success. Hot dung is
also of great advantage, as it will cause them to come into bearing
nearly a month sooner than would otherwise be the case.
After the plants have been topped, as above directed, let them run to
six joints, and then top them again, when they will show fruit, which
may be topped at the first joint. If the hand-glasses are large, fruit
will be ready to cut very early.
Be particular in not suffering them to run to too much vine; six joints
is quite sufficient at the first, and afterwards always keep them topped
at the first or second joint. By strict attention to this mode of
treatment, you may ensure a more abundant crop, and much finer fruit,
than can be calculated upon from the usual method of suffering the vine
to grow to a considerable length, which tends materially to weaken and
exhaust the plant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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