Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 149 



over the usual prostrate varieties that it does not suffer in wet and 

 cool seasons and that it has a longer period of bearing [H. Wulls]. 

 It is less tender in culture than the ordinary cucumber, bears 

 abundantly, is of excellent taste, softer consistence, but may perhaps 

 degenerate in culture [Gartenflora 1893]. A closely allied variety 

 occurs in Sikkim and Nepal up to 5,000 feet, where it is extensively 

 used for food. Sir Joseph Hooker suggests that the African C. 

 metuliferus (E. Meyer) may be the wild original state of our cucum- 

 ber-plant. For definitions of numerous varieties of Melons, Cucum- 

 bers and Gourds, as well as for full notes on their cultivation, see, 

 irrespective of other references, G. Don's Dichlamydeous Plants III, 

 1-42. Seeds will retain their vitality for ten years or more 

 [Vilmorin]. Cucumbers and gherkins are most richly produced 

 under irrigation. Cucumber-leaves are used in Africa for spinage 

 [Paul Reichard]. 



Cucurbita maxima, Duchesne. 



Large Gourd or Pompion-plant. Indigenous in South- Western 

 America. Yields some sorts of pumpkins. Instances are on record 

 of fruits having weighed over 2 cwt. Mr. J. P. Eckert reared in the 

 Wimmera-district fruits up to 52 Ibs. weight of superior taste and 

 good keeping quality. This species also is eligible amongst other 

 purposes for naturalisation in hot desert-regions. The fruit serves for 

 calabashes like that of Lagenaria vulgaris. The seeds will keep 

 about six years. Professor Wittmack obtained seeds from ancient 

 graves at Ancon. 



Cucurbita Melopepo, Linne".* 



The Squash-plant. May be regarded as a variety of C. Pepo. It 

 will endure storage for months. Wonderfully productive under 

 irrigation. 



Cucurbita moschata, Duchesne. 



The Musky Gourd. Warmer parts of America, where it was 

 much grown among Maize, prior to the advent of the Europeans 

 [Wittmack]. The principal species grown in Japan, the fruit 

 occasionally dried there [C. Sprenger]. A variety much cultivated 

 in Italy, produces fruit so large as occasionally to weigh 40 Ibs. 

 [Vilmorin]. 



Cucurbita Pepo, Linne".* 



The Pumpkin and Vegetable Marrow, as well as the Succade- 

 Gourd. Both- Americas, as far north as Lake Huron, existing before 

 Europeans came there [A. Gray and H. Trumbull]. This or an 

 allied species was in 1539 found in culture by Soto, on his arrival at 

 the Mississippi, according to Professor Wittmack, who also obtained 

 Pumpkin-seeds at Ancon from graves formed prior to the Spanish 

 conquest. Its naturalisation in hot deserts would be a boon. The 



