CUCUMBERS

C. R. WHITE, IONIA, ONTARIO COUNTY, N. Y.

Farmers' Institute Lecturer

EXTENT OF THE INDUSTRY

The cucumber crop is of greater importance than is generally believed. Cucumbers are grown over a very large range of territory, thriving over the entire country. They are grown perhaps more largely for pickling than for any other purpose, but many hundreds of thousands of bushels are grown in the United States for table use; these are of a size ranging from 14 to 211⁄2 inches in

FIG. 440.-FIELD OF CUCUMBERS ON FARM OF WHITE FARM Co.; YIELD, 1914, 600 BUSHELS PER ACRE

diameter, and are used for slicing. The over-sized ones are also in demand for frying in seasons when egg plant is scarce.

In New York State there are a number of large producing sections where both pickles and slicers are grown. On Long Island the industry is carried on very extensively, Shelter Island "cukes" being well known on the New York market. In the regions of Orchard Park and Ionia, in the western part of

the state, many thousands of bushels are grown for the slicing trade, each season.

There are numerous pickling and brining companies that annually contract for pickles, but their prices as a rule are not very remunerative, and they shift from place to place, finding new territory every few years.

Near Rochester, in the Irondequoit garden district, there are many large hothouses devoted to growing cucumbers, which is a very profitable business.

SOIL AND FERTILIZERS

The cucumber may be grown on almost any loose, well-drained soil, but it prefers the sandy or gravelly soils. It will not do well on soils that are heavy, or even on sandy soils of a silty nature,

FIG. 441.- FIVE GRADES INTO WHICH THE IONIA GROWERS' ASSOCIATION SORT THEIR CUCUMBERS

The soil should be well filled
The black mucky loam gives

which become compact after rains. with humus and free from acidity. good results but is usually situated on too low ground and is too subject to frosts to be very certain.

A medium application of manure is desirable when possible. For a fertilizer we would recommend one containing a goodly

amount of nitrogen derived from both nitrate and organic matter, rather high in phosphoric acid, derived from a non-acid source, such as steamed bone, and containing a small amount of potash. Among the best crops we have ever had were those grown where green manure was plowed under and fertilized.

PLANTING AND THINNING

A number of methods of planting are practiced: six by six feet in hills, thinned to four plants; three by six thinned to two plants, and in drills six feet apart, a plant every sixteen to eighteen inches. It is largely a matter of choice which is used. However, one of the latter distance is preferred, as it gives a better distribution.

Plenty of seed should be used, as the striped bug will sometimes thin the plants considerably when small. They should not be planted until the ground is fully warm, so they will come up quickly and grow without set-backs.

The thinning should be done before the plants begin to be crowded. I prefer two thinnings: the first as soon as the second leaves are fully developed, leaving twice the number required; the second, at the last hoeing, just as they are about to fall down and run.

They should have frequent but shallow cultivation. They are injured badly by root pruning, and great care should be taken not to cultivate either too deep or too close to the plants.

TWO ENEMIES

Two cucumber enemies are the striped beetle and squash bug which, when numerous, are kept off by lime or other repellants; but they are rarely bothersome enough when a large acreage is grown to require any treatment. A more serious trouble is the bacterial blight, the only cure for which is to pull and destroy the wilted plants. Leaf blight and mildew may both be controlled by spraying with standard strength bordeaux mixture.

VARIETIES

The varieties grown for pickles are usually some one of the special cluster and picking varieties, each section having its pref

erence.

For slicing, the white spine varieties, of which there are numerous strains, are most in use. The market prefers a variety which is green and holds its own in color well after being picked.

The hothouse growers in New York State. prefer the longer varieties of the Chinese class, while those near Boston grow the Arlington white spine, which is also a favorite outdoor variety.

PICKING AND PACKAGES

In a good growing time cucumbers should be picked every two days, and should not be over two inches in diameter for best market.

The favorite package in New York State is the standard bushel basket with slat cover, and the "cukes," as they are known on the market, should be graded as to quality.

PROFITS

As for the profits, it is like many other of the vegetable crops there is a wide fluctuation in it from year to year, the climatic conditions having a marked influence on the yield.

The market demand is also governed by the consumption of fresh cucumbers which depends largely on the temperature, many more being used in warm weather than in cool weather.

The Jewish people are the chief consumers of fresh cucumbers.