30 



at length the arrival of winter. They will thus be en- 

 dued with the " stamina" necessary to sustain them, 

 through that trying period, and though not without diffi- 

 culty, yet with comparative certainty, to reward the well- 

 directed zeal of the cultivator. It is impossible to give 

 any very minute directions as to the time of performing 

 these operations of propagation, for like all other gar- 

 dening operations, it is not at all requisite that they 

 should be done on any particular day, nor ought they to 

 be done except when natural conditions are favourable 

 to success : from ten to twelve weeks generally elapse 

 between the time of sowing the seeds and the production 

 of fruit, according as the season may be favourable or 

 otherwise. 



The numerous hybrid varieties which are in cultiva- 

 tion, render it a matter of some importance to make 

 choice of those most suitable to the purpose ; these are 

 however so continually changing, that it is useless to 

 attempt a record of them. The Sion house Cucumber is 

 perhaps the best of all suited for cultivation in the winter 

 season. The principal features which are required in 

 Cucumbers for winter forcing, are, precocity ; compact- 

 ness of growth, rather than luxuriance ; prolificacy, rather 

 than extreme length of fruit; and hardiness of constitu- 

 tion: these, are to the gardener far more important 

 points, than those which entitle them to rank as "prize" 

 varieties. 



