Varieties

There are many varieties known, but only a few are grown for market work, the favourites being Telegraph and Bochford's Market.

Profits

The profits obtainable from Cucumber growing cannot be estimated with great accuracy in these days, but at one time they were undoubtedly great. Now there is not only enormous competition amongst the growers themselves, but the working expenses in fuel and labour are higher than at any previous period, while the market prices have sunk to a very low point indeed, good fruit sometimes only realizing 9d. per dozen. But that is the case with almost every marketable commodity - very low prices are almost as exceptional as very high ones; and it is the average that counts after all.

Taking a house 200 ft. long and 13 ft. wide, it would be possible to grow 100 Cucumber plants on each side, making 200 altogether. With ordinary care and cultural skill each plant should average a crop of about 4 dozen good fruits, making for the whole house 800 dozen. At an average price of 1s. 6d. per dozen, this means a gross return of £60 from about 1/16 ac. in about four months, and about one-third or £20 should represent the net profit after paying for labour, fuel, water, etc. So that Cucumber growing, although it has its drawbacks, is nevertheless an important and not altogether unremunerative industry.