202 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



Cucumis Sativus-^ -Cucumber. 



This is a trailing annual, with rough heart-shaped 

 leaves and yellow flowers, growing wild in the East 

 Indies and in most warm climates. It is one of the 

 earliest garden products mentioned in history and was 

 cultivated from the ealiest times in Egypt. {Numbers xi. 5.) 



It has always been a vegetable peculiarly grateful and 

 refreshing to the inhabitants of warm climates. It was 

 probably early brought into Europe from the East, as 

 it was in high esteem among the Eomans, who so well 

 understood its culture, that it appeared on the tables of 

 the wealthy in winter. 



In England, it was introduced as early as 1573. 



Varieties, — There are many varieties, the best of which 

 are : 



Early Short Wldte Prickly, growing five or six inches 

 long with white prickles, remaining green longer than 

 most other varieties ; productive. 



Early Cluster. — Is well adapted to this climate, being 

 very early, and is named from the fruit growing in clus- 

 ters. The fruit is generally about five inches long, very 

 productive. Early Eussian is a smaller and earlier variety 

 of this. 



Long Green Prickly. — Dark green color with black 

 spines, grows about ten inches in length and bears abun- 

 dantly ; excellent for pickles. 



Gherkin. — Cucimis Anguria,^, species with very small 

 and prickly fruit and leaves much divided, or palmated; 

 a great bearer, but used only for pickling. 



There are many other varieties, some of which grow 

 two feet long, crisp and well flavored, but the foregoing 

 are the best for family culture. 



The ash of cucumber has been analyzed by Richardson. 



