The following extract gives an idea of how these improvements are carefully studied out:

" I received this new frame cucumber from a man who is known as one of the most skillful and successful vegetable growers, and therefore can recommend it confidentially as a very superior improvement. I am told that he was not satisfied with all the introductions of frame cucumbers of the last years, and therefore he busied himself in endeavoring to raise a more profitable variety. He succeeded in a surprising manner by crossing Noa's forcing with Queen of England. It ramifies more than Noa's forcing, and produces twice as much cucumbers, attaining every one a length of two feet and more. The flesh is very firm, extremely delicate, the peel being agreeably green with some clearer stripes. But the greatest value of this new variety is its extraordinary longevity; it blooms and fructifies from spring till autumn without ceasing, wherefore it was called as above." In America, where cucumbers are raised by the millions, these little points are not appreciated. Long Island farmers alone grow for the New York market three millions a year.