VINE CROPS 



The Vine Crops belong to the great family of Cucur- 

 bits iCucurhitaceae) . The native home of most species 

 of this group is in tropical regions, where an abundance 

 of warmth and moisture furnish ideal conditions for 

 growth through long seasons. So it is natural to find 

 these plants easily injured by frost and unable to grow 

 in cold soil. They require the warmest summer weather 

 for their development, and in northern regions must be 

 given every possible advantage in inducing a rapid start 

 and an early maturity. 



The principal Vine Crops are easily separated into three 

 important groups — the Cucumbers and Muskmelons 

 of the genus Cucumis, in which the short-stalked pollen- 

 bearing flowers are borne in clusters; the Squashes and 

 Pumpkins of the genus Cucurbita, in which the long- 

 stalked pollen-bearing flowers are solitary; and the 

 Watermelons of the genus Citrullus, in which the 

 pollen-bearing flowers are also solitary, but borne on 

 short stalks. 



In all members of the family the pollen-bearing, or 

 staminate, and fruit-producing, or pistillate, flowers are 

 separated, though borne upon the same vine. The 

 pollen is carried from one kind of flower to the other 

 chiefly by bees, especially bumble bees, which are very 

 useful in this way. 



♦ 6i 



