MARTYNIA. 329 



greatest diameter, and taper to a long, slender, incurved 

 horn, or beak. The fleshy, succulent character of the pods 

 is of short duration : they soon become fibrous, the elongat- 



The Martynia. 



ed beak splits at the point, the two parts diverge, the outer 

 green covering falls off, and the pod becomes black, 

 shrivelled, hard, and woody. The seeds are large, black, 

 wrinkled, irregular in form, and retain their germinative 

 properties three years. 



Sowing and Cultivation. The Martynia is of easy cul- 

 tivation. As the plants are large and spreading, they should 

 be two feet and a half or three feet apart in each direction. 

 The seeds may be sown in April or May, in the open ground 

 where the plants are to remain ; or a few seeds may be sown 

 in a hot-bed, and the seedlings afterwards transplanted. 



Gathering and Use. The young pods are the parts of 

 the plant used. These are produced in great abundance, 

 and should be gathered when half grown, or while tender 

 and succulent : after the hardening of the flesh, they are 

 worthless. They are used for pickling, and by many are 

 considered superior to the Cucumber, or any other vegetable 

 employed for the purpose. 



