NEW AMSTERDAM GARDENS 67 



identifying the watermelon. This was known in the 

 Netherlands through being brought from Portugal, 

 whence West Indian traders had taken it, as they took 

 the potato, sweet potato and tobacco. 



Of cucumbers and gourds there were plenty; the 

 calabashes or gourds were raised for their hard shells, 

 which were used to hold spices, seed and such things. 

 The gourd indeed "is the common water pail of the 

 natives and I have seen one so large it would contain 

 more than a bushel" that is, a Dutch bushel, which 

 is a peck less than the English. Turnips, peas and 

 beans he says are excellent, except the large Windsor 

 bean; this never seemed to fill its pods, owing to the 

 heat and dry climate, he reasons. Which was right; 

 and even now this variety of bean is useful only in 

 the northern sections, although it may do fairly well 

 in a cool summer, if planted early. It is hardy 

 enough to go into the ground about the time that peas 

 are planted. 



A bit of practical information comes in here, in his 

 account of the methods of planting adopted by the 

 Colonists. Referring to the Indians he says: "They 

 have a peculiar mode of planting them" (beans) 

 "which our people have learned to practice: when 

 the Turkish wheat" (Indian corn) "or as it is called 

 maize, is half a foot above the ground, they plant 

 the beans around it, and let them gow together. The 



