CUCUMBERS 153 



The simplest way of serving salad cucumbers is 

 the most satisfying. There are various ways to 

 preserve them for winter. Make jars and jars 

 of the little pickles ; don't miss having some sweet 

 chunk pickles made of the bigger fruit. Save 

 every ripe cucumber for the unrivaled old- 

 fashioned sweet pickle. One can never have too 

 much mustard pickle put away for the time when 

 the dull appetite needs sharpening. 



Pumpkins 



Nearly all that has been said concerning grow- 

 ing cucumbers is true with the culture of all the 

 vines. The knowledge necessary to raise a crop 

 of cucumbers, the most sensitive and delicate, the 

 most difficult, of all the cucurbits, is more than 

 sufficient for growing melons, pumpkins and 

 squashes. 



The big field pumpkins, even though they may 

 be had for the taking, are not the best sort. 

 They are exactly right for Hallowe'en Jack-o'- 

 lanterns. They may be made most terrifying 

 with their witch-like cavernous grin appearing 

 suddenly out of the darkness against the window 

 pane on a weird November night; and as sud- 

 denly disappearing with a scamper of feet across 

 the porch ; and again to be seen down in the dark 

 corn field at the opening of the corn-shock wig- 

 wam. They are good for fun at bonfires. These 

 huge pumpkins are all right for anything except 



