THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



CUCUMBERS. 



501 



Cict'MBER, Cucimis Sativus, Linnanis, — belongs to the class and order Monacia 

 Monodelphia, and ranks in the natural order Cuciirbitaccce. 



Is a native of the East Indies. It abounds in many parts of the tropical world. 

 In Egypt it is abundant, and has been so from the earliest ages ; it is among the 

 few fruits mentioned by the Jewish historian. It formed not only an article of 

 luxury to the inhabitants of Egypt, but an article of general food, and is by them 

 held in high esteem unto this day. The Emperor Tiberius, we are informed by 

 Martial, in his Epigrams, and also by Pliny, was so fond of cucumbers, that he had 

 them in his garden all the year through, by means of specularia, where they were 

 grown in boxes, wheeled out in fine weather, and replaced in the nights, or in cold 

 weather. It was introduced here in 1573, and is now cultivated to an astonishing 

 extent. Those who have not seen the wagon-loads of them m Covent Garden 

 Market, cannot but be surprised to hear of whole fields being annually covered with 

 cucumbers, some of which have been known to furnish the London market with 

 ten thousand bushels of pickling cucumbers in one week. In Germany and Poland 

 barrels of cucumbers are salted and preserved in vinegar from one year to another. 



The names of varieties of cucumbers are so arbitrary, that it would be of little 

 use to attempt any thing like a description of them. Every gardener has what he 

 calls his own, of which he is careful to keep from being impregnated with the fer- 

 tilizing pollen of inferior sorts. The following are esteemed good varieties : — 



1. Flanagan's. — Of nearly two feet in length, and of superior flavor and crisp - 

 ness; and is an excellent bearer. 



2. Sparrey's. — An excellent forcing sort, originated with Mr. Adam Sparrey, 

 late gardener to Lord Rodney. Is an excellent early forcing one, and a good 

 bearer for general crops. 



3. Early Long Prickly. — From five to seven inches long; an excellent sort, 

 both as a general bearer and crisp eating fruit. 



4. Early Short Prickly. — From four to five inches long; excellent for early 

 forcing, and as good for ridging out for picklers. 



5. Chester Cucumber. — The vines of this variety are disposed to climb by 

 means of its tendrils ; the leaves are smaller than any other known variety ; as it 

 occupies little room, and is a good bearer, it is calculated for early forcing in large 

 pots or boxes; fruit from four to five inches long. 



6. White Tirket. — Is not a great bearer, but is sometimes cultivated for some 

 culinary purposes, for which it is thought better adapted than any of the green 

 soitj. 



7. Fluted Cucumber. — A Chinese variety, recommended in the Horticultural 

 Transactions. 



8. Nepal Cicumber. — Sent by Dr. Wallick from Calcutta to the Horticultural 

 Society. Is of large growth, measuring seventeen inches in length, and twenty- 

 lour in girth, and weighing usually above twelve pounds. It is sometimes cultivated 

 for stewing, but is not hkeiy to become of general culture. 



9. Ki.i . y's Cicimber. — An esteemed Scotch variety, well suited for ft.rcing in 

 fiots ; is a hardy free setting sort, and handsome fruft ; from six to twelve inclu;^ iu 

 length. 



