ANNUAL PHYTOLACCA.

Phytolacca esculenta.

An annual species, with foliage similar to the foregoing. It is much less vigorous and stocky in habit. The seed should be sown in April, in drills fifteen inches apart. The young shoots, or plants, are used in the manner of the species before described.

CHAPTER IV.

CUCURBITACEOUS PLANTS.

The Cuc.u.mber. Egyptian Cuc.u.mber. Globe Cuc.u.mber. Gourd, or Calabash. The Melon. Musk-melon. Persian Melons. Water-melon. Papanjay, or Sponge Cuc.u.mber. p.r.i.c.kly-fruited Gherkin. Pumpkin. Snake Cuc.u.mber. Squash.

THE CUc.u.mBER.

Cuc.u.mis sativus.

The Cuc.u.mber is a tender, annual plant; and is a native of the East Indies, or of tropical origin. It has an angular, creeping stem; large, somewhat heart-shaped, leaves; and axillary staminate or pistillate flowers. The fruit is cylindrical, generally elongated, often somewhat angular, smooth, or with scattering black or white spines; the flesh is white or greenish-white, and is divided at the centre of the fruit into three parts, in each of which the seeds are produced in great abundance.

These seeds are of an elliptical or oval form, much flattened, and of a pale yellowish-white color. About twelve hundred are contained in an ounce; and they retain their vitality ten years.

_Soil and Culture._--Very dry and very wet soils should be avoided.

Cuc.u.mbers succeed decidedly best in warm, moist, rich, loamy ground. The essentials to their growth are heat, and a fair proportion of moisture.

They should not be planted or set in the open air until there is a prospect of continued warm and pleasant weather; as, when planted early, not only are the seeds liable to decay in the ground, but the young plants are frequently cut off by frost.

The hills should be five or six feet apart in each direction. Make them fifteen or eighteen inches in diameter, and a foot in depth; fill them three-fourths full of thoroughly digested compost, and then draw four or five inches of earth over the whole, raising the hill a little above the level of the ground; plant fifteen or twenty seeds in each, cover half an inch deep, and press the earth smoothly over with the back of the hoe. When all danger from bugs and worms is past, thin out the plants; leaving but three or four of the strongest or healthiest to a hill.

_Taking the Crop._--As fast as the cuc.u.mbers attain a suitable size, they should be plucked, whether required for use or not. The imperfectly formed, as well as the symmetrical, should all be removed. Fruit, however inferior, left to ripen on the vines, soon destroys their productiveness.

_Seed._--"Cuc.u.mbers, from their natural p.r.o.neness to impregnate each other when, grown together, are exceedingly difficult to keep true to their original points of merit;" and consequently, to retain any variety in its purity, it must be grown apart from all other sorts. When a few seeds are desired for the vegetable garden, two or three of the finest-formed cuc.u.mbers should be selected early in the season, and allowed to ripen on the plants. In September, or when fully ripe, cut them open, take out the seeds, and allow them to stand a day or two, or until the pulp attached to them begins to separate; when they should be washed clean, thoroughly dried, and packed away for future use.

_For Pickling._--The land for raising cuc.u.mbers for pickling may be either swarded or stubble; but it must be in good condition, and such as is not easily affected by drought. It should be deeply ploughed, and the surface afterwards made fine and friable by being thoroughly harrowed.

The hills should be six feet apart, and are generally formed by furrowing the land at this distance in each direction. Manure the hills with well-digested compost, level off, draw over a little fine earth, and the land is ready for planting.

This may be done at any time from the middle of June to the first week in July. The quant.i.ty of seed allowed to an acre varies from three-fourths of a pound, upwards. In most cases, growers seed very liberally, to provide against the depredation of worms and bugs; usually putting six or eight times as many seeds in a hill as will be really required for the crop. When the plants are well established and beyond danger, the field is examined, and the hills thinned to three or four plants; or, where there is a deficiency of plants, replanted.

As fast as the cuc.u.mbers attain the proper size, they should be plucked; the usual practice being to go over the plantation daily. In gathering, all the fruit should be removed,--the misshapen and unmarketable, as well as those which are well formed; for, when any portion of the crop is allowed to remain and ripen, the plants become much less productive.

In favorable seasons, and under a high state of cultivation, a hundred and twenty-five thousand are obtained from an acre; while, under opposite conditions, the crop may not exceed fifty thousand. The average price is about a dollar and twenty-five cents per thousand.

_Varieties._--

EARLY Cl.u.s.tER.

Early Green Cl.u.s.ter.

A very popular, early cuc.u.mber, producing its fruit in cl.u.s.ters near the root of the plant: whence the name. The plant is healthy, hardy, and vigorous; fruit comparatively short and thick. Its usual length is about five inches, and its diameter about two inches; skin p.r.i.c.kly, green,--at the blossom-end, often paler, or nearly white,--brownish-yellow when ripe; flesh white, seedy, tender, and well flavored, but less crispy or brittle than that of many other varieties.

It is a good early garden sort, and is very productive; but is not well adapted for pickling, on account of the soft and seedy character of its flesh.

EARLY FRAME.

Short Green.

One of the oldest of the garden sorts, justly styled a standard variety.

Plant healthy and vigorous, six to ten feet in length; fruit straight and well formed, five inches and a half long, and two inches and a half in diameter; skin deep-green, paler at the blossom-end, changing to clear yellow as it approaches maturity, and, when fully ripe, of a yellowish, russet-brown color; flesh greenish-white, rather seedy, but tender, and of an agreeable flavor. It is a few days later than the Early Cl.u.s.ter.

The variety is universally popular, and is found in almost every vegetable garden. It is also very productive; succeeds well, whether grown in open culture or under gla.s.s; and, if plucked while young and small, makes an excellent pickle.

EARLY RUSSIAN.

This comparatively new variety resembles, in some respects, the Early Cl.u.s.ter. Fruit from three to four inches in length, an inch and a half or two inches in diameter, and generally produced in pairs; flesh tender, crisp, and well flavored. When ripe, the fruit is deep-yellow or yellowish-brown.

Its merits are its hardiness, extreme earliness, and great productiveness. It comes into use nearly ten days in advance of the Early Cl.u.s.ter, and is the earliest garden variety now cultivated. Its small size is, however, considered an objection; and some of the larger kinds are generally preferred for the main crop.

LONDON LONG GREEN. _M'Int._

Fruit about a foot in length, tapering towards the extremities; skin very deep-green while the fruit is young, yellow when it is ripe; flesh greenish-white, firm, and crisp; flavor good.

This variety is nearly related to the numerous prize sorts which in England are cultivated under gla.s.s, and forced during the winter. There is little permanency in the slight variations of character by which they are distinguished; and old varieties are constantly being dropped from the catalogues, and others, with different names, subst.i.tuted. Amongst the most prominent of these sub-varieties are the following:--

_Carter's Superior._--Recently introduced. Represented as one of the largest and finest of the forcing varieties.

_Conqueror of the West._--Eighteen to twenty inches in length. It is a fine prize sort, and succeeds well in open culture.

_Cuthill's Black Spine._--Six to nine inches in length, hardy, early, and productive. An excellent sort for starting in a hot-bed. Fruit very firm and attractive.

_The Doctor._--Sixteen to eighteen inches in length, and contracted towards the stem in the form of a neck. In favorable seasons, it will attain a good size, if grown in the open ground. Crisp, tender, and well flavored.

_Eggleston's Conqueror._--"Very prolific, good for forcing, of fine flavor, hardy, and a really useful sort. Specimens have been grown measuring twenty-eight inches in length, nine inches and a half in circ.u.mference, and weighing five pounds."

_Flanigan's Prize._--An old, established variety; having been grown in England upwards of thirty years. Length fifteen inches.

_Hunter's Prolific._--Length eighteen inches. Very crisp and excellent, but requires more heat than most other varieties. Spines white; fruit covered with a good bloom, and not liable to turn yellow at the base.

_Improved Sion House._--This variety has received many prizes in England. Not only is it well adapted for the summer crop, but it succeeds remarkably well when grown under gla.s.s.

_Irishman._--Length twenty-two to twenty-five inches. Handsome, and excellent for exhibition.

_Lord Kenyon's Favorite._--Length twelve to eighteen inches. A fine sort for winter forcing.