160 CUCUKBITACEOUS PLANTS. 



nure the hills with well-digested compost, level off, draw over 

 a little fine earth, and the land is ready for planting. 



This may be done at any time from the middle of June to 

 the first week in July. The quantity of seed allowed to an 

 acre varies from three fourths of a pound, upwards. In 

 most cases, growers seed very liberally, to provide against 

 the depredation of worms and bugs ; usually putting six or 

 eight times as many seeds in a hill as will be really required 

 for the crop. When the plants are well established and 

 beyond danger, the field is examined, and the hills thinned 

 to three or four plants ; or, where there is a deficiency of 

 plants, replanted. 



As fast as the cucumbers attain the proper size, they 

 should be plucked ; the usual practice being to go over the 

 plantation daily. In gathering, all the fruit should be re- 

 moved, the misshapen and unmarketable, as well as those 

 which are well formed ; for, when any portion of the crop 

 is allowed to remain and ripen, the plants become much less 

 productive. 



In favorable seasons, and under a high state of cultivation, 

 a hundred and twenty-five thousand are obtained from an 

 acre ; while, under opposite conditions, the crop may not 

 exceed fifty thousand. The average price is about a dollar 

 and twenty-five cents per fhousand. 



Varieties. 



Early Clus- A popular, early cucumber, 

 EARLY GREEK producing its fruit in clusters 



CLUSTKB. 



near the root of the plant ; 

 whence the name. The plant is healthy, 

 hardy, and vigorous ; fruit comparatively 

 short and thick. Its usual length is about 

 five inches, and its diameter about two inches ; 

 skin prickly, green, at the blossom-end, Early cluster 



