CUCUMBER. 



99 



is apt to rot them. This early cucumber-bed will keep on bearing 

 very well until the latter end of May, by which time another bed, 

 made about the middle or latter end of March, will have succeeded 

 it. The plants for this second crop of cucumbers are to be raised 

 in pots put into the cucumber-bed last mentioned. They are to 

 be managed like those for the first bed, except that they must be 

 sown in a pot, instead of being sown in a hill. The bed for these 

 plants need not be above two feet and a half high, or thereabouts. 

 It will probably waot a slight lining ; but the materials need not 

 be equal to those made use of in the making of the early bed. In 

 the case of this latter bed, much air maybe given, and the covering 

 of a mat, or two at most, and that only in the night-time, will be 

 sufficient. In April some more plants may be sown in a pot in 

 this last bed, and re-potted as before ; and, in the middle of June, 

 these may go out into hills (under hand-glasses or without) in the 

 open ground, there to produce cucumbers for pickling, or indeed 

 for using in any other way, from the middle of July until the time 

 that the frost comes. Thus will there be a succession of cucum- 

 bers from the middle of March to the month of October. As to 

 sorts, great attention must be paid ; for some sorts produce 

 their fruit a great deal quicker than others. There is one called 

 the early frame cucumber ; another is called the early cluster 

 cucumber ; another is called the long pricMy cucumber. The 

 early frame has doubtless been found to be the quickest in 

 coming to perfection ; 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 generally 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 neighbour ; 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 



