from the syringe.  It is better to syringe three times than twice, but this must be in some degree determined by the temperature.  The greater the heat, the more freely should air and water be supplied; on the other hand, if the heat runs down, give water with caution, or disaster may follow.  In case of emergency the plants will go through a bad time without serious damage if kept almost dry, and then it will be prudent to give but little air.  Sometimes the heat of the bed runs out before there is sufficient sun heat to keep the plants growing, but if they can be maintained in health for a week or so, hot weather may set in, and all will come right.  But to carry Cucumbers through at such a time demands particular care as to watering and air-giving.

As regards stopping and training, we may as well say at once, that the less of both the better.  Free healthy natural growth will result in an abundant production of fruit, and stopping and training will do very little to promote the end in view.  But there is something to be done to secure an even growth and the exposure of every leaf to light.  When the young plant has made three rough leaves, nip out the point to encourage the production of shoots from the base.  When the shoots have made four leaves, nip out the points to promote a further growth of side shoots, and after this there must be no more stopping until there is a show of fruit.  The growth should be pegged out to cover the bed in the most regular manner possible, and wherever superfluous shoots appear they must be removed.  Any crowding will have to be paid for, because crowded shoots are not fruitful.  If a great show of fruit appears suddenly, remove a large portion of it, as over-cropping makes a troublesome glut for a short time, and then there is an end of the business; but by keeping the crop down to a reasonable limit, the plants will bear freely to the end of the season.  Every fruiting shoot should be stopped at two leaves beyond the fruit, and as the crop progresses there must be occasional pruning out of old shoots to make room for young ones.  An error of management likely to occur with a beginner is allowing the bed to become dry below while it is kept quite moist above by means of the syringe.  Many cultivators drive sticks into the bed here and there, and from time to time they draw these out and judge by their appearance whether or not the bed needs a heavy watering.  To be dry at the root is deadly to the Cucumber plant, and to be in a swamp is not less deadly.  It must have abundance of moisture above and below, but stagnation of either air or water will bring disease, ending in a waste of labour.