THE MANSE GARDEN. 153 



country. The leaves chiefly are used as seasoning 

 or salad. It is propagated by parting the clustered 

 bulbs, and may be planted so as to form an edging 

 not to flower borders, but along any of the vegetable 

 quarters. In this way it will serve without removal 

 for several years. 



Cress Plain or curled is of little consequence. 

 To have the first green thing of spring, dust the 

 seed thick into a shallow drill by the foot of a south 

 wall : or take a saucer and teacup, cover the latter 

 with flannel and invert it, fill the saucer and soak 

 the flannel with water, and throw upon it as much 

 seed as will stick. The apparatus set on a mantle- 

 piece will be verdant in a few days. Any of the 

 early sowings in the garden which happen not to be 

 used as a crop will produce plenty of seed. 



Cucumber Though the native of a warm climate, 

 is in this more easily reared than digested. It is 

 downright bad for most stomachs, and certainly by no 

 one who has ever had complaint of that organ ought 

 this fruit ever to be tasted. It is less pleasant to 

 detail the modes of cultivating a plant which to some 

 is at best not noxious, whilst to others it is perni- 

 cious ; yet as it is pleasant to see it grow, and being 

 at least to some eaters harmless and desirable, whilst 

 the fruit in its infant state is much esteemed for 

 pickling, it deserves as well as many of its neighbours 

 to have a place. In the manse garden, however, it 

 were quite out of place if it must be treated with all 

 that art which is requisite to present it in all its 

 varieties, and in all those seasons in which with due 

 care it is capable of being produced. 



It is a very tender annual raised from seed, and, 



G2 



