314 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY 



reported for some individuals. The oil obtained from the 

 fruit is in as common use in Mediterranean countries as 

 butter and lard in the United States. The products 

 that reach this country are olive-oil and pickled olives; 

 but dried olives also are much used in certain olive-grow- 

 ing regions. 



GOURD FRUITS. The tropical and subtropical family 

 (Cucurbitacece) that is popularly called the Gourd Family 

 contains numerous forms that are used by tropical peoples 

 not only as food, but also in the manufacture of various 

 utensils. The fruit is characterized by its very large size 

 and hard rind, and the flesh within is often edible. The 

 best-known edible forms in the United States are as fol- 

 lows: 



Watermelon is a native of tropical Africa, and has been 

 cultivated from the most ancient times. There is no coun- 

 try where watermelon culture is conducted on so extensive 

 a scale as in the United States. The chief commercial sup- 

 ply comes from the Southern States, the so-called Georgia 

 watermelon being the best-known variety; but a very large 

 melon industry has been developed also in Colorado. 



Muskmelons all belong to a single species (Cucumis 

 Melo), which is native to the warmer parts of Asia, but is 

 now cultivated all over the world. It is said that one-half 

 of the muskmelon crop is grown in New Jersey; but in 

 the western markets Michigan and Colorado are very im- 

 portant centers. The two general types of muskmelons 

 are the furrowed type, with hard rinds, known as canta- 

 loupes; and the netted type, with softer rinds, known as 

 nutmeg melons. Two important varieties of nutmeg mel- 

 ons have been developed recently: the Osage melon, from 

 southwestern Michigan; and the Rocky Ford melon, from 

 Colorado. 



Cucumbers belong to the same genus as muskmelons, 

 and are derived from a species (Cucumis sativus) native to 



