SQUASH. 199 



SQUASH. ( Cucurbita. ) 



The term squash does not signify any botanical division, 

 but is an American name that is applied to a large number of 

 varieties of gourds which in common parlance have come to 

 be classified separately. The term often includes what are 

 sometimes called pumpkins. 



Pollenizing the flowers. The flowers resemble those of the cu- 

 cumber and melon, being separate on the same vine. The 

 pistillate flower is produced at the end of the miniature 



Fig. 109.— Flowers of the squash. To the left two staminate (male) flowers: 

 to the right two pistillate (female) flowers. 



squash: the staminate flower is often called the "false blos- 

 som. " and its office is to produce pollen only. They are 

 naturally pollenized by insects. 



The crop is made more certain by having bees near by to 

 pollenize the flowers. In some places, the absence of many in- 

 sects is the reason why cucumbers, melons and squashes, which 



