THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



Brazil Cress.— This plant appears to differ from the Para Cress 

 only in the brown tint of its stems and leaves, which also extends 

 to the upper part of the flower-heads. The culture and uses of the 

 two plants are exactly the same. 



CUCUMBER 



Cjicumis sativus, L. Cucurbitacece. 



French^ Concombre. Gennait, Gurke. Flemish and Dutch. Komkommer. Danish, 

 Ajurken. Itaiian, Cetriulo. Spanish, Cohombro. Portuguese, Pepino. 



Native of the East Indies. — Annual. — A creeping plant, with 

 herbaceous stems, flexible, angular from the first, rough to the 

 touch, and furnished with tendrils. Leaves alternate, placed 

 opposite the tendrils, angular heart-shaped, bluntly toothed, rough 

 like the stem, dark green on the upper surface and gray underneath. 

 Flowers axillar}-, on short stalks, more or less green-yellow, some 

 male, others female, the latter placed on the top of the ovary, which 

 becomes the fruit, and which is of some size before the flower opens 

 on it. The plant continues to produce flowers in succession for a 

 long time, and the intervention of insects or of man seems to be 

 necessary to fertilise them. The fruit is oblong and more or less 

 cylindrical, smooth, or bearing protuberances which end in a hard 

 spine ; flesh abundant and watery. Seed yellow-white, very flat, 

 long oval, enclosed in three longitudinal compartments, which are 

 filled with a pulpy substance, and are nearly as long as the fruit 

 itself. Their germinating power seldom declines before the tenth 

 year. 



Culture. — The Cucumber is 

 grown extensively in almost all 

 parts of the world, and in warm 

 countries is brought to perfection 

 without the aid of artificial heat. 

 In Great Britain, however, the case 

 is different ; and in order to secure 

 a good supply of Cucumbers, even 

 during the warmest seasons of the 

 year, artificial heat is indispensable. 

 Cucumbers are grown in a variety of 

 ways — as in houses, pits, frames, etc., 

 and occasionally out-of-doors. The 

 best mode of culture is that of 

 growing them in houses, which, if 

 properly constructed, will yield a 

 supply at all seasons of the year. 

 Propagation is effected by seeds and 

 cuttings. The best kind of house is 



that with a span roof, a pathway 

 running through the centre, and a 

 bed on each side. The size of the 

 house must depend upon the 

 demand. Small houses are, how- 

 ever, best for Cucumber-growing ; 

 and if two can be used for them 

 and Melons alternately, it will be 

 found much more convenient than 

 having one large house. A house 

 entirely devoted to Cucumber- 

 growing all the year round must 

 necessarily be larger than when it is 

 only used for winter or spring crops 

 — inasmuch as, having to keep up a 

 continuous succession, fresh planta- 

 tions must be constantly made ; 

 therefore the best kind of house is 

 that with a bed on each side, as 



