PRICKLY-FRUITED GHERKIN". 189 



deeply furrowed or grooved in the direction of its length, 

 forming ten longitudinal, acute angles ; the skin is hard, and 

 of a russet-yellow color ; the seeds, five hundred of which 

 are contained in an ounce, are black, hard, and rough, and 

 quite irregular in form. 



Use. The fruit is eaten while it is quite young and small, 

 served in the manner of cucumbers, or like vegetable mar- 

 row. When fully ripened it is' exceedingly tough, fibrous, 

 and porous, and is sometimes used as a substitute for sponge ; 

 whence the name. 



PRICKLY-FRUITED GHERKIN. 



Gherkin. West Indian Cucumber. Jamaica Cucumber. Cucumis 

 anguria. 



This species is said to be a native of Jamaica. The habit 

 of the plant is similar to that of the Globe Cucumber, and 

 its season of maturity is nearly the same. The surface of 

 the fruit is thickly set with spiny nipples, and has an appear- 

 ance very unlike that of the Common Cucumber. It is com- 

 paratively of small size, and of a regular, oval form, 

 generally measuring about two inches in length by an inch 

 and a third in its largest diameter ; color pale green ; flesh 

 greenish-white, very seedy and pulpy. The seeds are quite 

 small, oval, flattened, yellowish-white, and retain their 

 vitality five years. 



It is somewhat later than the Common Cucumber, and 

 requires nearly the whole season for its full development. 

 Plant in hills about five feet apart ; cover the seeds scarcely 

 half an inch deep, and leave three plants to a hill. 



The Prickly-fruited Gherkin is seldom served at table 

 sliced in its crude state. It is principally grown for pickling ; 

 for which purpose it should be plucked when about half 

 grown, or while the skin is tender, and can be easily broken 



