590 



THE PUMPKIN AND GOURD. 



cultivation when used in a young state, and before the seeds begin to 

 be matured. The sweet gourd of Brazil closely resembles this variety, 

 both in form and properties. 



There is also an excellent green variety of marrow. Hibberd's Early 

 Prolific fruits very early, and produces a succession of delicate fruit, 

 about the size of a turkey's egg. The Custard marrow is likewise 

 beautiful in form and very rich in flavour. 



The Mammoth Gourd, syn. American Gourd (C. maxima, Pepo, 

 Dec.) is very large, sometimes weighing 160 Ibs., and one has been 

 grown of the enormous weight of 245 Ibs., at Luscombe, in Devon- 

 shire ; round, skin yellow, flesh deep yellow, solid. Used as a substi- 

 tute for turnips, carrots, &c., in soups and broths, and for potatoes 

 and other vegetables, with meat. It is only used when ripe, and in 

 that state will keep several months, even though a portion should be 

 cut for use every day. The Harrison pumpkin is a new American 

 variety of the Mammoth, supposed to be the most productive known. 



The Squash-melon Pumpkin, or Bush Gourd (C. Melopepo, L.) is of 

 middle size, round, skin yellow when ripe. Chiefly used in a green 

 state when of the size of a hen's egg. Much cultivated in America as 

 food for men, cattle, and swine. The Early Orange Squash is men- 

 tioned by Kenrick, 'American Orchardist,' 1841, p. 370, as a new 

 summer variety ; very early, and of superior quality. The Canada 

 Crook-neck, he says, is, without doubt, superior to any and all others 

 for a late or main crop ; the fruit, in a dry and mild temperature, will 

 keep till the following summer. 



The Turban Pumpkin, or Turk's-cap(C. Pepo, var. clypeata, L.); the 

 Warted Gourd (C. verrucosa, L.); the Orange Gourd (C. aurantia, L.); 

 the Bottle Gourd, or False Calabash (C. Lagenaria, L., Lagenaria vul- 

 garis, var. turbinata, Ser.) ; and various other sorts to be found in 

 nurserymen's catalogues, are cultivated chiefly as ornamental fruits. 

 Immense numbers of curious warted and other varieties have made 

 their appearance of late years, partly from the stimulus given by a 

 prize offered for the best collection in 1868. The following are the 

 varieties offered for sale by Messrs. Barr and Sugden, who took the 

 prize on that occasion, in their Catalogue for 1871 : 



Ornamental Gourds. 



Benincasa cerifera. 

 Cucumis Arada. 



,, dipsaceus. 



Figarei 



,. flexuosus (Serpent Gourd). 



,, grossularia. 



,, melo chito. 



,, ,, large fruited. 



tf ,, odoratissimus. 



,, metuliferus. 



,, pancherianus globosus. 



,, longus. 



Cucurbita moschata argyrosperma. 

 de la Floride. 



Cucurbita maxima verrucosa. 



Melopepo Hectoriana. 

 Pepo aurantiiformis. 

 ,, pyriformis. 

 ,, ,, viridi annulata. 

 ,, rouge de Crime'e. 

 perennis. 

 radicans. 

 Involucraria Lepiniana. 

 Lagenaria angolensis. 

 ,, enormis. 

 gigantea. 

 grosse peMerine. 

 hou-lo tie Chine. 



