CUCUMBER. 49 



tion by taking up a handful and squeezing it. If on 

 opening the hand seed appears entirely free of pulp, it 

 is ready for washing. 



Washing. This may be done in a tub, a barrel, a 

 large box, or in a machine. When using a tub or a 

 barrel, pour in a quantity of the seed pulp, and add 

 several pails of water. The liquor is then stirred 

 violently with a stick until the pulp is loosened. More 

 water is now poured in, and stirring is again done, this 

 time with a circular motion, which will cause the water 

 to run around in the vessel. This motion holds the 

 separated pulp suspended, while seed sinks to the 

 bottom. The water is then poured off, which will 

 carry the pulp with it, and leave seed at the bottom. 

 The operation is to be repeated several times, with clear 

 water, until seed is considered clean. 



The box method, as performed by some growers, is 

 practicable only where there is a stream of water. A 

 box is made with the sides and ends about eighteen 

 inches in height, and six or seven feet in length. The 

 bottom is fitted with heavy wire screen, eight meshes 

 to the inch. A platform is built on the bank, extend- 

 ing out into the stream several feet to where a swift 

 current may be reached. Four posts are driven, one at 

 each corner of the washing box, and cross-pieces nailed 

 between each pair of end 'posts. One end of the box is 

 then fastened to one of these cross-pieces, at such height 

 as to keep the top of that end above water. The other 

 end is made fast to the other two posts by means of an 

 adjustable strap or rope, in such manner as to allow it 

 to be raised or lowered at will. Then the down-stream 

 end of the box is carefully lowered into the water, 

 until about three-fourths of the entire box is submerged. 

 The action of the water in going through the meshes of 

 4 



