The Tragical Kitchen Gardiner, 



cucumbers require more water than me- 

 lons, as re|Ceiving indeed, on account 

 of its natural tafte, lefs damage from 

 watering than melons do, and alfo that 

 water makes them more fruitful 5 yet if 

 they have but a little water, they will 

 be more pleafant and wholefome^ and 

 tho* they are to be watered in dry wea- 

 ther, yet in cold wet weather they 

 fliould be defended againft rain, by fome 

 coverings 5 for how eafily foever they 

 may (by being ftrew'd with fait, and 

 beat between two plates) be cleared of 

 all the water and watery tafte, yet as 

 cucumbers are (by thofe curiofo's who 

 divide herbs into four degrees of hear, 

 and four degrees of cold) efteemed cold 

 in the fourth degree, the next degree 

 whereof would be poifonous, one can't 

 be too careful of keeping them from 

 over-much moifture, nor indeed fliould 

 be eat too early nor too late, tho' the 

 former is aim'd at by moft gar diners, 

 with an uncommon pride and defire; 

 as the latter is by moft country people 

 of hot and juvenile conftitutions, eaten 

 too avaritioufly, to their great hurt, and 

 fometimes utter deftruftion, unlefs well 

 mix d with pepper, vinegar, and other 

 Hz hot 



