CUCUMBER. 123 



Columella is the oldest author who gives any direction 

 for forwarding cucumbers by artificial means. " Those 

 who wish for them early," says he, " should plant the 

 seeds in well-dunged earth, put into osier baskets, that 

 they may be carried out of the house, and placed in 

 warm situations when the weather permits ; and as soon 

 as the season is advanced, the plants may be sunk in the 

 earth with the baskets, or wheels may be put upon large 

 vases, that they may be brought out with less labour. 

 Notwithstanding they ought," continues he, " to be 

 covered with specularia," which seem to have been trans- 

 parent stones, that the Romans were in the habit of cut- 

 ting thin, so as to admit light, and keep out the air, glass 

 being unknown at that period. 



It is related by Pliny, that Tiberius the emperor was 

 so fond of cucumbers, that there was not a day through- 

 out the year but he had them served up at his table. 

 The beds and gardens wherein they grew, were made 

 upon frames, so as to be removed every way with wheels ; 

 and in winter, during the cold and frosty days, they could 

 be drawn back into certain high covered buildings, ex- 

 posed to the sun, and there housed under roof. These 

 appear to be the earliest accounts of the forcing of plants, 

 of which we read. It is probable, also, that artificial 

 heat was used ; as we find, by the remains of their villas 

 in this country, how perfectly the Romans were ac- 

 quainted with the method of warming their rooms with 

 flues. 



Pliny says, " To make a delicate salad of cucumbers, 

 boil them first, then peel them from the rind, and serve 

 them up with oil, vinegar, and honey." 



Mr. Aiton mentions the cucumber as being first culti- 

 vated here in the year 1573, in the reign of Queen Eliza- 

 beth. This appears to be an error, as cucumbers were 

 very common in this country in the reign of. Edward the 



