THE FUN OF SI<:KING THINGS 



28q 



Avistful, the expectant or the cringing. 

 But, to return to fclis catus and his 

 tail, I would suggest that you refer the 

 question to Miss Agnes Rep])lier, 

 whose well-known affection for the 

 "hreside s]')hinx" may enable her to 

 solve the pu/.zle. 



Louis CORTAMRERT. 



The Chayote, a Little-Known Winter 

 Vegetable. 



The chayote, like the summer squash, 

 to which it is related, is a vegetable 

 l)roduced on climbing vines with per- 

 ennial roots. The vines somewhat re- 

 semble those of the cucumber but are 

 more prolific and vigorous in growth. 

 In fact, it is svich a rank grower and 

 rampant climber that it can be used 

 very successfully as a screen for 

 fences or outbuildings. 



Although it is native onh" in Alex- 



\ated soils in those sections of the 

 southern states where the grcnnul does 

 not freeze. Experiments at the Plant 

 Introduction Field Station at Brooks- 

 ville, hdorida, have shown that a good 

 average yield is about lOO fruits per 

 plant, although under favorable con- 

 ditions, individual plants have been 

 known to produce as many as 600 

 fruits, averaging from 8 ounces to a 

 pound apiece in weight. The best 

 yields of fruit are obtained when the 

 vines are trained upon an arbor or 

 trellis. 



The fruits can be kept through the 

 winter and may be shipped to the 

 northern markets from September to 

 ^larch. 



Chayotes somewhat resemble sum- 

 mer squash in taste but possess a 

 firmer texture and more delicate flavor. 

 The chefs of two of the most progres- 



They are got 



TIJK CHAYOTE. 

 to cat. ^^'t■ enjoyed these at .\rcAdiA. 



ico and Central America, its cultiva- 

 tion has now spread over the West 

 Indies and as far as Algeria. The 

 governments of New South Wales and 

 Ceylon, realizing its great possibilities 

 as a wholesome and very prolific vege- 

 table, have also endeavored to pro- 

 mote its culture. 



During the last few years the United 

 States Department of Agriculture has 

 been encouraging the cultivation of 

 chayotes as a new truck crop for the 

 South. It can be grown successfully 

 on anv of the well drained and culti- 



sive hotels in New York and Philadel- 

 phia have served this vegetable in 

 many ways and have pronounced it an 

 excellent addition to our small variety 

 of winter vegetables. AMiile there are 

 many ways of serving chayotes, they 

 are usually preferred creamed, used in 

 salads, or baked with other vegetables 

 or meats. 



The fruits are best for eating when 

 about two-thirds grown, as they are 

 then more tender and of a more deli- 

 cate flavor than when allowed to ma- 

 ture on the vines. 



