Cucumber

with squashes and melons, a member of the gourd family. The garden cucumber is native to southern Asia, but is cultivated in gardens as far north as the center of England. Of late the market demand for fresh cucumbers has led to the investment of money in forcing houses in which cucumber vines are trained to run on frames beneath a glass roof. The cucumbers hang down from the vines in easy reach. A small house will raise a surprisingly large number of cucumbers for winter and spring market. Garden cucumbers require a rich, sunny spot. Seed should not be spared, as the young plants are especially subject to the attacks of insects. The plant stops yielding as soon as a few cucumbers are allowed to turn yellow. Young cucumbers may be put down in brine for salt pickles, and later the salt may be soaked out and the cucumbers placed in vinegar for sour pickles. Gherkins are a small kind of cucumber suitable for pickles. See Gourd; Vegetables