322 



THE GARDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



Hero of Lockinge. — The best for all purposes of this 

 section. Ripens early, keeps well. 



High Cross Hybrid. — Larger than the preceding, deep 

 in flesh. 



Longleat Perfection. — One of the best of the older sorts. 



Ne plus ultra. — Flavour extra fine, deep flesh, constitu- 

 tion robust. 



Royal Favourite. — Flesh deep, sets freely, handsome 

 netting. 



The Countess. — Large, fine appearance and quality, nets 

 freely and well. 



Green-fleshed Varieties. 



British Queen (fig. 1102). — A handsome fruit, excellent 

 in every way; flesh green-white. May be grown in an 

 unheated frame in summer. 



Earl's Favourite (fig. 1099). — Strong grower, free setter, 

 fine flavour. Fruits 19 inches round and weighing 4 lbs. 

 have been grown. 



Emerald Gem (fig. 1103). — A fine Melon, heavy fruits, 

 appearance pleasing. 



Epicure. — Medium size, flavour extra fine, grows freely. 



Exquisite. — Very thick flesh, flavour fine, thin rind, 

 extra juicy. 



Monarch. — Oval-shaped, thick flesh, rich-green in colour, 

 of first-rate quality. 



Ringleader. — Extra early, heavy fruits, sets well, flavour 

 superb ; one of the best. 



[J.H.] 



CHAPTER XXII. 



THE CUCUMBER. 



Origin — Soil — Sowing — Treatment — Fruiting-bed — 

 Watering — Ventilation — Coverings — Pruning — 

 Crooked Fruit — Training — House Culture— 

 Raising the Plants — Root Treatment — Syring- 

 ing — Winter Culture — Saving Seed — Ridge 

 Cucumbers — Varieties. 



The Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is cultivated 

 in all warm and warm-temperate countries, but 

 its origin is not known. The genus to which 

 it belongs is represented by wild species in 

 Africa, Asia, Australia, and America, the two 

 best known being the Cucumber and the Melon 

 (C. Melo). The Cucumber was cultivated and 

 in general use in Egypt in the earliest ages. In 

 Rome recourse was had to artificial means to 

 obtain its fruits throughout the year. The 

 mode of effecting this for the table of the emperor 

 Tiberius was not widely different from that 

 employed in the present day. Heat was ob- 

 tained in frames filled with hot dung, and light 

 was admitted through thin plates of talc, which 

 would doubtless answer the purpose exceed- 

 ingly well, especially under the strong light of 

 an Italian sky. Pliny mentions beds mounted 

 on wheels, so that in cold weather they could 

 be removed under the shelter of buildings at 

 night. The plants were also reared in baskets 



or in large vases, in order that they might be 

 placed in the open air when the temperature 

 was favourable, and taken in-doors when it was 

 otherwise. 



The Cucumber requires for its successful cul- 

 tivation a rich light soil, a bottom-heat of from 

 75° to 80°, and a top-heat between 70° and 80°. 

 Moisture ought not to be at any time deficient; 

 and it is of the utmost importance that the 

 foliage be exposed to as much light as possible; 

 a thin shading, however, from the direct rays 

 of the sun, when these are too powerful, is 

 advantageous; and it may be added that air 

 should be given when it can be admitted with- 

 out danger. 



Soil. — The soil in which the seeds are to be 

 sown should be rich and light; it may consist 

 of well -decomposed leaf- mould or finely -sifted 

 peat, a lump of the same soil being placed at 

 the bottom of the pot for drainage, or two parts 

 turfy loam, one part peat, and one part leaf- 

 mould, with some sharp sand. Some growers 

 use turf of old maiden loam taken off not more 

 than 3 inches thick, laid up, at least six months 

 before being used, in narrow ridges with alter- 

 nate layers of fresh horse-dung and a good 

 portion of straw. When required, this compost 

 is chopped up, but not sifted. Turfy loam 

 may not be obtainable, and loam that is not 

 turfy may have to be substituted. In this case 

 a less proportion of loam, and more peat, leaf- 

 mould, or decayed dung should be used, in 

 order that a sufficient degree of porosity may 

 be secured. For winter forcing peat alone has 

 been very successfully employed in dung-beds. 

 Good peat has the property of preserving the 

 roots during winter, when in other soils they 

 are apt to damp off. 



Where composts of the above description can- 

 not be obtained, any tolerably rich, rather light 

 soil, mixed with an equal quantity of well-de- 

 composed dung, will answer very well, or layers 

 of soil 6 inches thick, and layers of the same 

 thickness of fresh horse- and cow-dung mixed 

 together may be placed alternately one above 

 the other several months previous to use, and 

 after the whole has been frequently turned, 

 and has undergone a slight fermentation, it will 

 be suitable for the purpose. A Cucumber plant 

 will grow vigorously in common garden soil, 

 and it may be observed how healthy Cucumber 

 plants are when growing in the open air and 

 exposed to full light. This method, however, 

 is uncertain; means must therefore be em- 

 ployed to produce artificial heat, as well as 

 shelter from cold winds, rain, and snow. The 



