ctrcuiUBER. 55 



circumstance in which they can be placed. It is absolutely 

 necessary to have a constant current, as where there is any 

 obstruction to the stream, the plants cease to thrive. After 

 they have been cut about three times, they begin to stock* 

 and then the oftenerthey are cut the better." 



CUCUMBER. 



CONCOMBRE. Cucumis scttwus, etc* 



VARIETIES. 



Early Frame. Long Green Southgate, 



Early Green Cluster. Long green Turkey. 



Early Green Table. 

 Long Prickly. 

 Short Prickly. 



Long White Turkey. 



White S pined. 



West India, or Gherkin- 



THE Cucumis sativus, or common Cucumber, is a native 

 of the East Indies, and of nearly as great antiquity as the 

 vine. It was introduced into England in 1573, and is ex- 

 tensively cultivated in forcing frames, and in the open air. 

 In March, they are sold in the London markets for a guinea 

 a dozen ; and in August and September, for one penny per 

 dozen. 



As Cucumbers are much used in New- York, it 

 should be an object with gardeners to have them in the 

 market early ; directions for raising them out of the ordi- 

 nary season, are therefore given in a future page, under the 

 head forcing vegetables, to which the reader is referred. 

 Cucumbers may be raised in the open ground, by planting 

 seed the first week of May, in hills four feet apart ; or 

 if the ground be light, basins formed an inch below the level 

 of the surface would be beneficial.* Previous to planting, 

 the ground should be prepared by incorporating a shovelful 

 of rotten dung, with the earth in each hill, after which four 

 or five seeds may be planted half an inch deep. One ounce 



* The term hill is frequently made use of by gardeners and farmers, 

 to designate a situation allotted for a given number of seeds, whereas, 

 such seeds are more frequently deposited below the level of the surface 

 than above it ; yet, as the plants progress in growth, hills are frequently 

 formed around them, which makes the term applicable, or rather 

 reconciles the apparent contradiction. 



