THE CUCUMBER. 85 



beyond danger, the field is examined, and the hills thinned 

 to three or four plants, or, where there is a deficiency of 

 plants, replanted. 



As fast as the cucumbers attain the proper size, they 

 should be plucked ; the usual practice being to go over the 

 plantation daily. In gathering, all the fruit should be re- 

 moved, the misshapen and unmarketable, as well as those 

 which are well formed ; for, when any portion of the crop 

 is allowed to remain and ripen, the plants become much less 

 productive. 



In favorable seasons, and under a high state of cultiva- 

 tion, a hundred and twenty-five thousand are obtained from 

 an acre ; while, under opposite conditions, the crop may not 

 exceed fifty thousand. The average price is about a dollar 

 and twenty-five cents per thousand. 



Varieties : 

 A popular, early cucumber, producing its Early Cluster. 



fruit in clusters near the root of the plant : EAELY 



CLUSTER* 



whence the name. The plant is healthy, 



hardy, and vigorous ; fruit short and thick. Its usual length 



is five inches, and its diameter about two 



inches ; skin prickly, green, often 



paler or nearly white at the blossom-end, 



brownish - yellow when ripe ; flesh 



white, seedy, tender, and well flavored, 



but less crispy or brittle than that of many 



other varieties. 



It is a good early garden sort, and is 

 quite productive ; but is not well adapted 

 for pickling, on account of the soft and 

 seedy character of its flesh. 



Early Cluster Cucumber. 



One of the oldest of the garden sorts, Early Frame. 

 justly styled a standard variety. Plant 

 healthy and vigorous, six to ten feet in length ; fruit 



