234 KITCHEN GARDEN. 



same name, and which grows several feet in. length, 

 being slender and curved. 



Cucumber {Ciieumis Satinus). — The cultivation of 

 this vegetable in the United States is conducted so 

 nearly like that of the cantaloupe, that we only refer to 

 what we have just said in relation to the best mode of 

 raising those melons as almost equally applicable to 

 that of the cucumber. But the cucumber will thrive 

 and prove highly productive almost everywhere, whilst 

 the cantaloupe often fails in places in which it does not 

 find the proper kind of light and sandy soil conjoined 

 with sufficient heat. In the Middle States, the seed 

 may be planted any time in May. Immediately after 

 coming up, the plants of both the cucumber and can- 

 taloupe are liable to be attacked by a very little black 

 bug. The ravages of this have sometim^es been checked 

 by sprinkling or sifting over the plants some ashes or 

 soot, either alone or mixed together. This should be 

 done in the morning whilst the leaves are still moist 

 with dew. When three rough leaves have been made, 

 the ends of the shoots should be pinched off, so as to 

 make them branch out and fruit sooner. For the va- 

 rieties of the cucumber best known in England, we refer 

 to the part of this treatise which treats of the operations 

 of the forcing garden. 



Egg Plant [Solanum 3felongena). — There are two 

 varieties of this plant commonly cultivated in the United 

 States, one of which is a large, oval-shaped, purple-co- 

 lored fruit, often weighing many pounds, and used for 

 cooking; the other variety, being white and much 

 smaller, though good when eaten, is generally raised 



