CUCUMBER. 49 
tion by taking up a handful and squeezing it. If on 
opening the hand seed appears entirely free of pulp, it 
is ready for washing. 
Washing.—This may be done in a tub, a barrel, a 
large box, or ina machine. When using a tub or a 
barrel, pour in a quantity of the seed pulp, and add 
several pails of water. The liquor is then stirred 
violently with a stick until the pulp is loosened. More 
water is now poured in, and stirring is again done, this 
time with a circular motion, which will cause the water 
to run around in the vessel. This motion holds the 
separated pulp suspended, while seed sinks to the 
bottom. The water is then poured off, which will 
carry the pulp with it, and leave seed at the bottom. 
The operation is to be repeated several times, with clear 
water, until seed is considered clean. 
The box method, as performed by some growers, is 
practicable only where there is a stream of water. A 
box is made with the sides and ends about eighteen 
inches in height, and six or seven feet in length. The 
bottom is fitted with heavy wire screen, eight meshes 
to the inch. A platform is built on the bank, extend- 
ing out into the stream several feet to where a swift 
current may be reached. Four posts are driven, one at 
each corner of the washing box, and cross-pieces nailed 
between each pair of end posts. One end of the box is 
then fastened to one of these cross-pieces, at such height 
as to keep the top of that end above water. The other 
end is made fast to the other two posts by means of an 
adjustable strap or rope, in such manner as to allow it 
to be raised or lowered at will. Then the down-stream 
end of the box is carefully lowered into the water, 
until about three-fourths of the entire box is submerged. 
The action of the.water in going through the meshes of 
4 
