There seems to have been no further horticultural in- 
terest in the species until 1882, when it was introduced 
into the United States by Eisen. (Anonymous: ‘‘Sundry 
investigations made during the year’ in Bull. 87, Agr. 
Exper. Sta. Cornell Univ. (1891) 389-3894; Bailey, L. H. : 
“Standard cyclopedia of horticulture’’ 3 (1980) 8182.) 
Because pepino means cucumber, Eisen thought it ad- 
visable to give the new introduction a more appropriate 
English common name. In this connection, he wrote (in 
Gard. Monthly 29 (1887) 84): ‘“‘] suggested the name 
melon shrub, but through the error or the wisdom of a 
printer, the name was changed to melon pear, which I 
contess is not very appropriate. ... 7’ This name has 
persisted, however, in the American literature and, when 
the taste of the fruit—somewhat suggesting an acid musk 
melon—is taken into consideration, it is not altogether 
inappropriate. There was some success in cultivating 
Solanum muricatum in California and Florida (Anony- 
mous, loc. cit.; in Am. Gard. 9 (1888) 265; Orch. and 
Gard. 10 (1888) 61), but in more northern states there 
was difficulty in its setting fruit. It does not do so well 
at low altitudes in Hawaii (Neal, M. C.: ‘‘In gardens of 
Hawaii” in Spec. Publ. Bishop Mus. 40 (1948) 657). 
At the turn of the century, Fairchild found that it had 
become very popular in the Canary Islands but that it 
was ‘‘doubtful whether it has found its proper niche 
there, where it can produce as delicate-flavored fruit as 
it does in the terraced gardens of Grand Canary.’ 
In a very interesting and complete review of the cul- 
ture and history of pepino, issued in 1891, the following 
recommendations were set forth: ‘The pepino is an un- 
usually interesting plant, and if it could be made to set 
fruit more freely in the north, it would be an acquisition 
for the kitchen garden and for markets. It is a good orna- 
mental plant. Altogether, it is deserving of a wider repu- 
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