Cucumber Notes 



415 



For very early, some of the small -fruited cucumbers may be 

 planted, as Early -Russian. For midseason and late, the White 

 Spine, in various strains, is the standard. Giant Pera, Nichol 

 Medium Green and Tailby are favorites. In 1889, 64 varieties 

 were listed by American seedsmen. 



The cucumber is Cucumis sativus, native to southern Asia. It 

 has been in cultivation from remotest times. Gherkins are very 



Fig 131. Seedlings of cucumber. Two-thirds natural size. 



small, immature cucumbers, used for pickles. The name is also 

 applied to the small prickly fruits of Cucumis Anguria, a species 

 known as the West Indian or Bur cucumber. This is sometimes 

 cultivated, and its fruits are used for pickles. For accessible his- 

 tory of cucumber, see Sturtevant, Amer. Nat., Oct., 1887, pp. 

 906-910. A monograph of varieties by Goff will be found in 6th 

 Kept. N. Y. State Exp. Sta., pp. 230-242. The varieties were 

 reduced to 26, including Cucumis Anguria. He divides them into 

 two classes: young fruit green, young fruit white or greenish 

 white. Waugh (Bailey, Cyclo. Hort.) divides the field varieties 

 into Black Spines and White Spines, and makes subdivisions 

 under each. 



For enemies and diseases, consult the following, amongst 

 others : 



Root and stem: Squash vine borer, N. J. Bull. 94, desc. and 

 ill.; N. Y. Bull. 75, desc, and well ill. Destroy eggs, 

 larvre and moths. 



