I50 MISCELLANEOUS COOL PLANTS. 
shape of a lemon.’’ They say that it was much cultivated 
in Peru, and added that it was propagated by means of 
cuttings. It was called ‘‘ Pepino de la tierra.’’ In 1785, 
Thouin, a noted French gardener, introduced it into 
Europe, and four years later Aiton, of the Royal Garden 
at Kew, England, named it Solanum muricatum.* he 
specific name, smzuricate or prickly, was given in reference 
to the rough or warty character of the sprouts which 
spring from the root, and which are often used for propa- 
gation. And now, over a hundred years later, it has 
found its way to us. 
Mr. Eisen’s account of the pepino will be interesting 
in this connection. ‘‘ The Central American name of this 
plant,’’ he writes, ‘“is pepino. Under this’ name git=1s 
known everywhere in the Central American highlands, 
and under this name only. But as pepino in Spanish 
also means cucumber, it was thought best to give the 
plant an English name. I suggested the name melon 
shrub, but through the error or the wisdom of a printer 
the name was changed to melon pear, which I confess is 
not very appropriate, but still no less so than pear 
guava, alligator pear, rose apple, strawberry guava, 
mango apple, custard apple, etc. * “4, )4s@temeae 
value of the fruit and the success of it in the states, only 
time will tell. The fact that I found the plant growing 
only on the high land, where the temperature in the shade 
seldom reaches 75° Fahr., suggested to me the proba- 
bility that it would fruit in a more northern latitude. In 
California it has proved a success in the cooler parts, 
such as in Los Angeles city, and in several places in the 
coast range, and will undoubtedly fruit in many other 
localities where it is not too hot. * * * M+y friend, 
the late Mr. J. Grelck, of Los Angeles, had a plantation 
of 10,000 pepinos, which grew and bore well, and he sold 
considerable fruit. * * * In pulp and skin the pepino 
* Hort. Kew. i. 250. 
