he habit of the plant
is similar to that of the Globe Cucumber, and its season of maturity is
nearly the same. The surface of the fruit is thickly set with spiny
nipples, and has an appearance very unlike that of the Common Cucumber.
It is comparatively of small size, and of a regular, oval
form,--generally measuring about two inches in length by an inch and a
third in its largest diameter; color pale-green; flesh greenish-white,
very seedy and pulpy. The seeds are quite small, oval, flattened,
yellowish-white, and retain their vitality five years.

It is somewhat later than the Common Cucumber, and requires nearly the
whole season for its full development. Plant in hills about five feet
apart; cover the seeds scarcely half an inch deep, and leave three
plants to a hill.

The Prickly-fruited Gherkin is seldom served at table sliced in its
crude state. It is principally grown for pickling: for which purpose it
should be plucked when about half grown, or while the skin is tender,
and can be easily broken by the nail. As the season of maturity
approaches, the rind gradually hardens, and the fruit becomes worthless.
In all stages of its growth, the flesh is comparatively spongy; and, in
the process of pickling, absorbs a large quantity of vinegar.

* * * * *

THE PUMPKIN.

Cucurbita pepo.

Under this head, on the authority of the late Dr. T. W. Harris, should
properly be included "the common New-England field-pumpkin, the
bell-shaped and crook-necked winter squashes, the Canada crook-necked,
the custard squashes, and various others, all of which (whether rightly
or not, cannot now be determined) have been generally referred by
botanists to the _Cucurbita pepo_ of Linnaeus."

The term "pumpkin," as generally used in this country by writers on
gardening and agriculture, and as popularly understood, includes only
the few varieties of the Common New-England Pumpkin that have been long
grown in fields in an extensive but somewhat neglectful manner; the
usual practice being to plant a seed or two at certain intervals in
fields of corn or potatoes, and afterwards to leave the growing vines to
the care of themselves. Even under these circumstances, a ton is
frequently harvested from a single acre, in addition to a heavy crop of
corn or potatoes.

The Pumpkin was formerly much used in domestic economy; but, since the
introduction of the Crook-necks, Boston Marrow, Hubbard, and other
improved