Four seeds to each hole, later on thinned to two .seedlings ; 2 1)2 

 kadahs of seed per fdn. 



Ill : Two crops viz : Sefi. sown in March and Nili. in July. 



A* : The Sefi in May, two to 2 1)2 months after sowing ; Nili, 15 

 50 days after sowing. 



The plant continues producing for about 35 40 days. 



VII : Eaten raw and served raw as a salad ; made into pickle either 

 by itself or mixed with peppers, egg-plants, turnips, onions, etc. The 

 fruit is of the most cooling. In sunstroke, pieces of the fruit are applied 

 to forehead to neutralize heat. A cooling pomade is prepared from the 

 fruit used both in medicine and as a cosmetic. Seeds oily and edible. 



VIII: Cucumbers will thrive in any good soil not extremely heavy 

 nor sandy. Best sandy loam. Like all the cucurbits it requires a hot 

 and strong manure, pigeon dung being the best for the purpose. Plenty 

 of water and manure are necessary to ensure a quick and succulent 

 growth. On river banks fences are necessary to protect the young plants 

 from north winds and drifting sands. For all other particulars look 

 under W. melon. 



Cucurbita maxima ; Araa Stamboulli or Aassali ; Great Gourd 

 (Pctiron of the French) : Cucurbitaceae. 



I : The var. grown in Egt. is generally oblong in shape more or 

 less constricled about" the middle. It is reddish yellow outside, the 

 flesh being firm, sweet and of the same colour as the skin. 



II : By seed; On river banks on the flat in rows; Land under 

 perennial irrigati.ui on trenches, the latter being used for irrigating 

 the crop. Distance between the rows or trenches 78 feet; distance 

 between the plants 2 \)2 .*> feet ; 4 seeds to each hole, thinned to 2 

 seedlings. 



III : At any time except during winter months. Best sowings are 

 made in March and July. Sowings may also be made in April. 



V : Harvesting takes place 56 months after sowing ; the fruit is 

 plentiful in August, November and December. When mature it will 

 keep for many months if hung up in an airy place. 



VII: Chiefly when boiled it is a pleasant and wholesome article of 

 food Nutritious it is often made into preserves by natives often sold 

 in bnzavs cut up into slices, The bailed pulp is often used as a poul- 



