84 CUCURBITACEOUS. PLANTS. 



suitable size, they should be plucked, whether required for 

 use or not. The imperfectly formed, as well as the sym- 

 metrical, should all be removed. Fruit, however inferior, 

 left to ripen on the vines, soon destroys their productive- 

 ness. 



Seed. As cucumbers readily intermix or hybridize when 

 grown together, it is necessary, in order to retain any vari- 

 ety in its purity, to grow it apart from all other sorts. 

 When a few seeds are desired for the vegetable-garden, two 

 or three of the finest-formed cucumbers should be selected 

 early in the season, and allowed to ripen on the plants. In 

 September, or when fully ripe, cut them open, take out the 

 seeds, and allow them to stand a day or two, or until the 

 pulp attached to them begins to separate, when they should 

 be washed clean, thoroughly dried, and packed away for 

 future use. 



The seeds of the different varieties are similar in size, 

 form, and color. Twelve hundred are contained in an 

 ounce, and they retain their vitality ten years. 



For Pickling f The land for raising cucumbers for pic- 

 kling may be either swarded or stubble ; but it must be in 

 good condition, and such as is not easily affected by drought. 

 It should be deeply ploughed, and the surface afterwards 

 made fine and friable by being thoroughly harrowed. The 

 hills should be six feet apart, and are generally formed 

 by furrowing the land at this distance in each direction. 

 Manure the hills with well - digested compost, level off, 

 draw over a little fine earth, and the land is ready for 

 planting. 



This may be done at any time from the middle of June 

 to the first week in July. The quantity of seed allowed to 

 an acre varies from three-fourths of a pound upwards. In 

 most cases, growers seed very liberally, to provide against 

 the depredation of worms and bugs ; usually putting six or 

 eight times as many seeds in a hill as will be really required 

 for the crop. When the plants are well established and 



