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CHAP. XXXVII.
Of Cucumbers.
CVcumbers are sowen vpon a bed, in the moneth of March: and for feare of srost they are couered with straw vntill mid-May, which is the time when they would be remoued vnto such ground as is well manured and thicke layed with dung, fat, and soft, to the end they may be suffered to creepe and ripen vpon the ground: or else vpon beds, filled with fat and well 〈◊〉〈◊〉 earth, being a foot high. For to sow them there must be planted foure or five seeds, the one from the other some two foot, they must not be weeded at all, because they thriue the better when they be ouer-growne with weeds. Notwithstanding 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Spaine they vse to weed them as carefully as they can, as also lighten and raise the•••• earth, and there grow verie faire Cucumbers thereupon. It is good to water the•••• oft, vntill they put forth their buds, and bring forth fruit, yea and after also, if the time fall out somewhat drie: for the Cucumber of his owne nature doth loue moi∣sture, insomuch as if there be set a vessell full of water vnder a Cucumber, it will be found the next day to be shrunke three fingers, and it must be prouided that the water goe directly downe vnto the root of the Cucumber, without touching the fruit, because otherwise it would make it worse. It is true, that when it beginneth to ripen, the raine, and ••uerie other manner of watering is enemie vnto it, for there∣by it becommeth but more withered, without any tast, and altogether disconten∣ting. It feareth the thunder and lightning, and for that cause you must not pla•••• them in any such time, neither yet hope for any great increase thereof, in such yeares, as wherein such stormes and tempests fall out: for thereupon they wither and fall quite away to nothing. If a man desire to haue them faire ones, he must gather them in the full of the Moone, for at this time they grow bigge, and at other times they fade and grow lesse. Furthermore, there may not come neere vnto their bed, any vessell full of oyle, because the cucumber of all other things hateth oile, and cannot thriue if he which doth till them, haue handled oyle.
The vse of Cucumbers is altogether hurtfull, because the nourishment and juice comming of them is easily corrupted in the veines, whereupon there grow in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bodies Burning-Agues, and such as are verie hard to c••re: wherefore it is better to appoint them for meat for Mules and Asses, to which kind of beasts this fruit is verie pleasant and profitable, than to ordaine them for mens food and sustenance. It is verie true that their seed boyled with Barley-water doth prouoke vrine, as∣swage the heat of the reines, and also diminish the heat and thirst that is in Agues. A decoction made with the seed of Cucumbers, Winter-Cherries, Mallowes, and the seeds of vvhite Poppie, adding thereto the juice of Licorice, a little Mummia, Gum-arabecke, and Tragacanth, is a singular remedie for them which are in con∣sumptions, which cough continually, and haue their vrine burning them. So•••• likewise say, that a Cucumber placed long-wise, neere vnto a child which hath an Ague, being of the same greatnesse that the child is, doth deliuer it altogether from the Ague.