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cultivated, would soon cease to exist; and 

 the cucumber has never been found to grow 

 in the natural state in any part of Europe. 



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 ; notwith- 

 standing they ought/' continues he, " to be 

 covered with specularia" which seem to have 

 been transparent stones, that the Romans were 

 in the habit of cutting thin, so as to admit 

 light, and keep out the air, glass being un- 

 known at that period. 



It is related by Pliny, " that Tiberius 

 the emperor was so fond of cucumbers, and 

 took such pleasure and delight in them, 

 that there was not a day, throughout the 

 year, passed over his head, 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 



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