2G8 ORIGIN OF CULTIVATED PLANTS. 



naturalized. However, unable to find any similar 

 African plant, he adopted the general opinion. Sir 

 Joseph Hooker, on the contrary, is inclined to believe 

 that C. Anguria is a cultivated and modified form of 

 some African species nearly allied to C. pro^jhetarum and 

 C. Figarei, although these are perennial. In favour of 

 this hypothesis, I may add: (1) The name ma^von cu- 

 cumber, given in the French West India Islands, indicates 

 a plant which has become wild, for this is the meaning 

 of the word maioon as applied to the negroes ; (2) its 

 extended area in America from Bia'/iil to the West Indies, 

 always along the coast where the slave trade was most 

 brisk, seems to be a proof of foreign ori^dn. If the 

 species grew in America previous to its discovery, it 

 would, with such an extensive habitat, have been also 

 found upon the west coast of America, and inland, which 

 is not the case. 



The question can only be solved by a more complete 

 knowledge of the African species of Cucimiis, and by 

 experiments upon fertilization, if any have the patience 

 and ability necessaiy to do for the genus Cucuinis what 

 Naudin has done for the genus Cucurbita. 



Lastly, I would point out the absurdity of a common 

 name for the Ano-uria in the United States Jerusalem 

 Cucumber} After this, is it possible to take popular 

 names as a guide in our search for origins ? 



White Gourd-melon, or Benincasa Benincasa hispida, 

 Thunberg ; Benincasa cerifera, Savi. 



This species, which is the only one of the genus 

 Benincasa, is so like the pumpkins that early botanists 

 took it for one,^ in spite of the waxy efflorescence on the 

 surface of the fruit. It is very generally cultivated in 

 tropical countries. It was, perhaps, a mistake to aban- 

 don its cultivation in Europe after having tried it, for 

 Naudin and the Bon Jardinier both recommend it. 



It is the cumhalam of Rheede, the camolenga of 

 Rumphius, who had seen it cultivated in Malabar and 

 the Sunda Islands, and give illustiations of it. 



' Darlinsrton, Agric. Bof., p. 58. 



* Cucurbita Pepo of Luureiro and Eoxburgh. 



