VEGETABLE KINGDOM. Ill 



are prepared for this purpose by salting and parching. In 

 eating, the shells are cracked with the teeth and the kernels 

 extracted. To crack the seed, extract the kernel, and spit out 

 the shells without using the hands, is an accomplishment that 

 is considered to evidence the good breeding of the gentleman. 

 The melon grown to produce these seeds is of a special variety, 

 evidently the result of a long period of selective development. 

 It is not so large as the other varieties, contains but little pulp, 

 and is a mass of seeds. The pulp has little or no taste. The 

 kernels are said to be demulcent, pectoral, and peptic. Much 

 of their good effects, however, may be attributed to their 

 saltiness and the masticatory effort made in eating them. The 

 Chinese consider that sometimes the eating of melons produces 

 fluxes, and even Asiatic cholera. But as liquid night soil is so 

 largely used in their cultivation, and as they are usually left 

 lying cut open in the markets, it is probable that the infection 

 comes from the outside of the melon. It is well to wash the 

 melon thoroughly before cutting. The rind of the melon is 

 dried and incinerated, and after being finely powdered, is used 

 in the treatment of aphthous sore month. 



CITRUS.— fl (Chii). This term is practically generic, 

 as well as being used with qualifiers as a common term for the 

 fruit as it appears in the market. There are several species, 

 with many varieties, all apparently indigenous to China and 

 the East Indies. Indeed, it is probable that this is the natural 

 habitat of the orange, from whence it has spread to other 

 parts of the world. After discussing the general subject of 

 these fruits under the term above given, the P^ntsao describes 

 five species, viz : (i \^ (Kan i or Citrus nobilis, the tajigerine 

 and mandarin orange^ also called ^ /fjj; \% (Chu-sha-chii) ; (2) 

 fg (Ch'eng) or Citrus aurantimn^ the coolie orange^ also 

 called ^ \^ (Kuang-chii, "Canton orange") and ^ Jj (Chin- 

 ch 'iu, "golden ball"); (3) ^ (Yu) or Citrus decumana^ the 

 pumelo or shaddock ; (4) i^ ||| (Kou-yiian) or Citrus medica^ 

 the citron^ of which there are some peculiar varieties (see 

 below) ; (5) ^ \% (Chin-chii) or Citrus japonica^ the cumquat 

 ox golden orange^ also called ^ S (Chin-tou, "golden beau ") 

 and ^ |§ (I^u-chii), after the Cantonese sound of these char- 



