CH. 2.J CUCUMBERS; 39 



thumb *; but I do not approve of this being 

 done when an ordinary fhew of thefe blof- 

 foms only appears. Nature fhould be kindly 

 ailifted; but neither fpurred nor thwarted, 

 where it can be avoided. When the fe- 

 male bloflbms are fufficiently advanced, 

 let them be carefully impregnated with the 

 ftrongeft and moft healthy of the males, 

 which will greatly promote the fwelling of 

 the fruit. And let it be here cbierved, 

 that, if the fruit or female bloom is not 

 impregnated with the male, it will not ri- 

 pen its feed, although the fruit may fwell 

 to a good fize, and be very fit for the 

 table : and although it often happens that 

 the farina of the male is carried, by in- 

 feds, &c. and the wind paffing through 

 the frame, to the object of its deftination, 

 yet it is a more certain way to be at the 

 trifling trouble of doing it with the hand ; 

 as handfomely fet fruit can be marked for 

 feed with a greater degree of certainty, 

 C 4 and 



* I would here obferve, that the knife ought never 

 to be emplo^d in the pruning of Cucumbers and me- 

 lons, unleis in cutting out any flrong, old vines ; anct 

 as nothing is more brittle than the leaves of thefe plants, 

 when in a healthy ftate, they ought to be handled at all 

 times with the greateft care and delicacy. 



