CALABASH, OR COMMON GOURD. 169 



CALABASH, OR COMMON GOURD. 



Bottle Gourd. Cucurbita lagenaria. 



The Calabash, or Common Gourd, is a climbing or creep- 

 ing annual plant, frequently more than twenty feet in height 

 or length. The leaves are large, round, heart-shaped, soft 

 and velvety to the touch, and emit a peculiar, musky odor, 

 when bruised or roughly handled. The flowers, which are 

 produced on very long stems, are white, and nearly three 

 inches in diameter. They expand towards evening, and re- 

 main in perfection only a few hours ; as they are generally 

 found drooping and withering on the ensuing morning. The 

 young fruit is hairy, and quite soft and tender ; but, when 

 ripe, the surface becomes hard, smooth, and glossy. The 

 seeds are five eighths of an inch in length, somewhat quad- 

 rangular, of a fawn-yellow color, and retain their vitality 

 five years. About three hundred are contained in an ounce. 



Cultivation. The seeds are planted at the same time and 

 in the same manner as those of the Squash. The Gourd 

 succeeds best when provided with a trellis, or other support, 

 to keep the plant from the ground ; as the fruit is best de- 

 veloped in a pendent or hanging position. 



Use. The fruit, while still young and tender, is some- 

 times pickled in vinegar, like cucumbers. At maturity the 

 flesh is worthless : but the shells, which are hard, light, and 

 comparatively strong, are used as substitutes for baskets ; 

 and are also formed into water-dippers, and various other 

 articles both useful and ornamental. The varieties are as 

 follow : 



Fruit about a foot in length, contracted at Bottle Gourd. 



Vil 



the middle, largest at the blossom-end, but 

 swollen also at the part next the stem. 



There is a sub-variety, very much larger ; but it is 'also later. 

 15 



