tice seeds are oily and largely eaten along with those of the following 

 species. The seeds of both are supposed to possess anthelmintie proper- 

 ties and are especially used in cases of Tape-worm. 



VIII : The plants require protection during December and January 

 as they are very sensible to cold and frost. Regular waterings and 

 plenty of f . y. manure. See under W. melon. 



Cucurbita pepo ; Araa Kossa : Vegetable Marrow ; 

 Cucurbitaceae. 



I : Two var. are grown viz: The green (Akhdar) and the white 

 (Abiad); both are oblong and cylindrical in shape more or less rib- 

 bed only differing in the colour of the skin, the one being green 

 while the other is white. The former is the more esteemed, being of 

 superior quality and making a better show. 



II : By seed ; treated like the preceding. 



Ill : Like the preceding ; sowings in spring may continue till end 

 of May and in summer till end of August. 



V : Begins 50 60 days after sowing and continues for about 

 1 1)2 month. Be careful in collecting the -fruits not to touch the very 

 young ones as tli \v will soon die and rot. 



VII: The m>;t important of the gourds used as an esculent. The 

 fruits arc best w 'ion eaten quite young and not over-cooked, ihe flesh 

 being then tendc.', and the flavour remarkably sweet and nutty. 

 Excellent when b tiled and served as a salad. The young tops are 

 often used lor the same purpose. The flowers are also cooked, stuffed 

 with rice. The pulp is used for adulterating butter. 



VIII : Same as preceding. 



N.B. Cucurbits, particularly when young, suffer much from a 

 yell >w beetle, feeding on the leafage and very often being extremely 

 injurious The pest is called. Raphidopalpa abdoininalis(arb : Kl-IIamra). 



Cynara cardunculus : Cardon : Cardoon : Compositae. 



The cardoon grown in Egypt is obtained from imported French seed. 

 Jt is but g.'own to a small an extent and only eaten by the Europeans. 



II : By seed ; ridges 3 feet apart, putting in 3 or 4 seeds at inter- 

 vals of about 2 feet in the ridges. Thin to one plant at each station. 



