ON COMMON DUNG BEDS. 41 



handsomest be preserved, and that they be im- 

 pregnated four or five times each, previous to 

 the closing of the blossom. They should not be 

 cut under six or eight weeks, then put into a 

 cool room for a month, when they may be 

 opened, the seed taken out, washed and dried : 

 those only which sink to be retained. 



The plan of inlaying the vines of the cucum- 

 ber practised by some, is now seldom resorted 

 to by experienced growers, and is worse than 

 useless ; for as soon as the buried portions take 

 root the original roots perish ; and, in the place 

 of one good plant, there will be a dozen weak ones. 



When extraordinarily fine fruit is desired, 

 allow the plant to mature one only ; but a suc- 

 cession should be permitted, so that the after- 

 fruit do not follow too closely on the first. By 

 this plan the growth will be rapid, provided the 

 plants are in health ; and the fruit be much 

 better flavoured than if grown slowly. When 

 long in swelling off, the fruit frequently becomes 

 hard and bitter, and is therefore worthless. 



