280 THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



and mostly curved. The fruit is finer and better in appearance 

 if care is taken to straighten it betimes before it can take an 

 objectionable form. 



Duke of Bedford Cucumber. — A splendid Cucumber. The 

 fruit is very long, straight, and smooth, with a very few spiny 

 warts. Should be grown in a hothouse, or at any rate in a heated 

 glass-pit. In ordinary glass-frames with only the mild temperature 

 of fermenting manure, it is almost impossible to obtain fruit of fine 

 size and appearance, but when grown in the conditions prescribed^ 

 the fruit attains to a length and perfection unequalled by any other 

 variety. 



The following varieties, likewise derived from the Long Prickly 

 Cucumber, may also be mentioned : — 



Blue Gown Cucumber. — Fruit very long, frequently over 2 h., 

 cylindrical, covered with a glaucous bloom. Spines few, white, 

 with black points. A very handsome variety. 



Cardiff Castle Cucumber. — A vigorous plant, half-early, sets 

 regularly ; good cropper. Fruit long and smooth. 



Hamilton's Market Favourite Cucumber. — Fruit 12 to 15 in., 

 long, thin, slightly ribbed, light-coloured spines with black points. 



Marquis of Lorne Cucumber. — Fine and long fruit, narrowed 

 at the end ; spines few and white. 



Tender and True Cucumber. — Fruit about 15^ in. long, 

 cylindrical , spines scarce and light coloured with black points. 



The following varieties, which also produce long, handsome 

 fruit, are also much grown in England : — Long- Gun, Duke of 

 Edinburgh J Manchester Prize^ Dr. Livingstone^ J arm an! s Improved 

 Telegraphy Stourbridge Gem, Sutton's Peerless, Lord Roberts^ 

 Triumph. These varieties, to succeed well, require to be grown 

 in hot-houses or on beds heated by hot-water pipes. 



Ridge Cucumbers. — The following varieties, although growing 

 better in artificial heat, can be grown in the open ground, and 

 hence are called Ridge Cucumbers : — 



Bedfordshire Ridge Cucumber. — A handsome, productive, and 

 early kind, resembling Pike's Defiance, but with rather shorter fruit. 



Gladiator Cucumber. — Fruit about i ft. long, nearly cylindrical, 

 straight, gradually narrowed at the stalk end and more abruptly so 

 at the other. Flesh white, firm, and solid. 



King of Ridge Cucumber. — A fine variety, long, straight, rough- 

 skinned, resembling the Green Giant Cucumber. 



Pikes Defiance Cucumber, — The fruit of this variety differs 

 from that of the Gladiator Cucumber in being lighter in colour. It 

 is a\so rather earlier, hardier, and remarkably productive. It is one 

 of the best kinds for growing in the open ground. 



Of the open-air varieties which are not of English origin, we 

 may mention the following : — 



