Combine sugar, water, salt and vinegar. Tie spices in cheesecloth and add to mixture. Simer 15 minutes. Pack cucumbers into hot sterilized jars leavin 1 cm head space. Add bayleaf, garlic,mustard seed, small head of dill and pepper to the jar.Heat the brine to a hard boil, pour boiling hot over cucumbers,leave 1 cm head space for liquid too. Cap and process pints or quarts 15 minutes in boiling water canner. Makes 7 pints.