no 



to ferment their cider. It is naturally of a round 

 form, and frequently grows to a large size. It 

 is also used by the natives instead of baskets, 

 and in such cases they give it whatever shape 

 they think proper. The yellow flowered or 

 Indian gourd, called pcnca, is of two kinds, 

 the common and the mamillary ; this last in its 

 leaves and flowers resembles the first, but the 

 figure of the fruit is spheroidal, with a large 

 nipple at the end; the pulp is sweet, and its 

 taste is very similar to a kind of potatoe known 

 by the name of camote. 



The quclghcii, or the strawberry of Chili, 

 diflers from the European in its leaves, which 

 are rough and succulent, and in the size of its 

 fruit, which is frequently that of a hen's egg. 

 The strawberries, like those of Europe, are ge- 

 nerally red or white, but those that are yellow 

 arc also to be found in the provinces of Puchacay 

 and Iluilquilemu, where they attain greater 

 perfection than elsewhere.* The strawberry of 



* Tlie stuuvbeiry of Chili is an Iiermaphrotlite and 

 dioecia!, and the plants brought by Frazier to Europe were 

 probably only some female hermaphrodite shoots, which pro- 

 duced fruit in consequence of being impregnated by some of 

 our ^tra\^ berries winch were in the vicinity. Had the author 

 been in a situation to have become acquainted with <his cir- 

 cumstance, he would not have called that degeneration which 

 is niere!y ;I.c 'result of an unnatural fecundity. 



'I'he waiil of male plants, as appears from Miller, is also 

 the reason of the En^^lish luning abandoned the cultivation of 

 his v;j;ii.v-b;rrv. />. Trans. 



