10 



The properties of the plants comprised in this natural 

 family, are not numerous ; a bitter laxative quality per- 

 vades many of them, a familiar example of which is the 

 resinous substance called Colycinthine, the production of 

 the Colocynth gourd, in which the active purgative prin- 

 ciple is concentrated, rendering it drastic, and irritating. 

 Among our native plants the roots of Bryonia dioica, 

 in common with the perennial roots of all the plants in 

 the order, possess these purgative properties. On the 

 other hand, the seeds are sweet, yielding an abundant 

 supply of oil ; and it may be worthy of remark, that they 

 never partake of the properties of the pulp with which 

 they are surrounded in the fruit. 



The Cucumber does not possess the properties common 

 to the order, in very powerful degree ; its fruit is how- 

 ever too cold for many persons, causing flatulency, diarr- 

 hoea, and even cholera ; by others, it may be eaten with 

 avidity, without producing any injurious effects. 



The names by which the Cucumber is recognised by 

 the Hindoos, are Ketimon, and Timou. In the French, 

 it is called Concombre; in the German, Gurke; and in 

 the Italian, Citriuolo. As a cultivated plant, it is of 

 nearly equal antiquity with the Vine ; being mentioned 

 by the writer of the Pentateuch, as being cultivated exten- 

 sively in Egypt, above 3000 years since. 



The cultivation of this plant, and the production of 

 fine fruit at an early season, is an object of emulation 

 among gardeners of the present day; and from this 

 cause, many important improvements in the mode of its 

 cultivation have been effected. The vast increase of 

 means, arising from an acquaintance with powerful agents, 

 formerly unknown, which are available by the present 

 and rising races of gardeners, enable them to secure the 

 same important results which cost their predecessors 

 much both of labour and anxiety, with a comparatively 

 small amount of the former, and a degree of certainty at 



