

V. CUCUMBER. 



perfection j but the cluster is a very great bearer, and 

 comes not much later than the other. There are several 

 other sorts, but the long prickly cucumber is most gene- 

 rally esteemed ; and, therefore, ought to be sowed for 

 those who want a general crop. With regard to sorts, 

 however, people generally save the seed themselves of 

 this plant, or get it from some careful and curious neigh- 

 bour j and every one sows that which happens to suit 

 his fancy. If you wish to save the seed of a cucumber, 

 let some one fine fruit remain ; but expect the plant, on 

 which this fruit is, to cease bearing as soon as the seed 

 cucumber begins to ripen. This fruit must hang upon 

 the vine till it pretty nearly rots off : you then take the 

 seeds and separate them from the pulp as clean as you 

 can, place them to dry in the sun ; but do not wash them 

 with water : when perfectly dry, but not before, put 

 them away in a dry place, and they will keep good for a 

 great many years. Guard them against mice, for, if they 

 get at them, not one seed will they leave with the kernel 

 of it not eaten. After all, if you have no hot-bed at all, 

 a couple of wheel-barrow fulls of hot dung put into a 

 hole a foot deep, and with good mould a foot deep laid 

 upon the dung, is a very good situation for cucumbers 

 which you may sow there about the middle of May. Two 

 or three plants upon such a hill or bed, and, if you have a 

 hand-glass, keep the plants covered with that in the 

 night-time and when the days are cold, always giving 

 air, however, when the sun is out, and, in time, raising 

 the glass npon bricks and letting the vines run out under 

 it. Even if you have no hand-glass, you may cover, 

 with the help of hoops and a mat or a cloth, until the 

 weather be such as to render it safe for the plants to be 



