APPENDIX. 159 



his neighbors because he plants alternate rows of 

 male and female melon seed. We cannot under- 

 stand how a man can plant alternate rows of melons 

 with seed obtained from the two sexes of the fruit, 

 as no male blossom of any of the melon family 

 ever produces fruit. The male and female flowers 

 are always separate and distinct on the same vine, 

 and it is only the latter which perfect fruit. There 

 are, however, many persons who, having heard that 

 there were two sexes of flowers in melons, think 

 that both produce fruit, and we have heard dealers 

 in our markets declare that they can 'readily pick 

 out the different sexes in the ripened fruit. Of 

 course, these men know nothing of botany." 

 American Agriculturist, 1887, page 422. 



"He and She" Squashes. There have recently 

 appeared in several agricultural papers illustrations 

 and descriptions of what are called "he and she" 

 squashes. The former are long and pointed, and 

 the latter short, and have a depression at the apex. 

 It is believed that the latter always give the most 

 and best seed. Similar differences are supposed to 

 exist in pumpkins and other gourd fruits. This 

 belief is quite common in some parts of the coun- 

 try. Of course, as remarked in the preceding 

 paragraph, persons who hold such beliefs know 

 nothing of botany. The female flowers of these 

 plants are the only ones that bear fruit, and no 



