CUCUMBER. 51 



nourishing qualities, few or none of our culinary vegetables 

 having less nutriment, it being of a cold and watery nature, 

 and to persons of a weak and delicate constitution very indi- 

 gestive. When dressed with oil, vinegar, and pepper, it is 

 freely used to cool the feelings and sharpen the appetite : hence 

 the common saying, ■'' as cool as a cucumber." Of the many 

 sorts in cultivation, we-select the following, as being dissimilar, 

 and worthy of culture, either for the frame or open air. 



Early Short White Prickly. — Fruit from four to six inches 

 long, of a sea-green color, with white spines ; forces very well, 

 and is grown extensively for market. It does not get yellow 

 so soon as the Early Short Prickly^ which is of the same size, 

 of a dark green color, with black spines. 



Long Early Frame. — This is used both for forcing and open 

 air culture. It grows from six to ten inches long, a good 

 bearer and a very excellent variety. 



Manchester Prize. — Dark green, with black spines. An 

 English variety ; of great excellence either as a fruit or abun- 

 dant bearer ; generally grown in the gardens of the wealthy 

 about Philadelphia, and is often seen at our Exhibitions twenty 

 inches to two feet long. 



Kerrisoii's Long White Spiiie, in size and form similar to the 

 former. The spines or prickles are white : a good bearer. 



Lo7ig Prickly grows about ten inches long ; dark-green 

 color, black prickles ; a great bearer. This variety, with the 

 two first named, are the most certain for general crops ; the 

 other long sorts are equally as crisp, if not more so, but they 

 are not so plentiful bearers, neither do they produce seed in 

 any quantity. If different sorts of Cucumbers are grown con- 

 tiguous to each other, they are certain to mix, and the seed 

 from them will not produce the genuine variety. There are 

 also white Cucumbers, and white with black spines, but their 

 taste is flatter and more insipid. 



Culture in the open air is of the simplest character. 



