PLANTS. 273 



fruit cylindrical, covered with bristle-pointed protuber- 

 ances ; when unripe, greenish-yellow ; ripe, gold color. 

 The cucumber came originally from the East Indies, but 

 now cultivated everywhere, and is prized as an article of 

 table diet, particularly in the form of pickles. The 

 seeds are said to be used in Europe for the preparation 

 of a cooling drink, but in the United States are never 

 employed in the same way. Vines creep to a great dis- 

 tance over the earth, fastening their tendrils to whatever 

 object is near, they will climb to a considerable height. 

 There are many varieties. O 



The Cantelenpe or Musk Melon (Cucurnis melo), in 

 growth and appearance of vine, bears much resembance 

 to the common cucumber. The leaves are roundish or 

 orbicular, with two or three abrupt angles, and heart- 

 shaped ; fruit oval or round, arid often from four to six 

 inches in diameter ; has a pleasant aromatic odor ; rind 

 often longitudinally ridged ; the flesh, when mature, yel- 

 lowish, succulent, and of a saccharine spicy flavor, almost 

 melting on the tongue. Originally a native of Kalmuck, 

 Tartary, it is now largely cultivated in Southern Europe 

 and the United States. Varieties numerous. 



The Water Melon (Citrullus vulgaris) resembles the 

 foregoing. Fruit ten to twenty inches long, with an 

 oblong, firm, fleshy rind, and when mature, has a sweet, 

 tender, watery, frosty-looking pulp of a red or flesh 

 color ; seeds black or purplish-brown. Much prized in 

 all warm countries for the refreshment it affords. The 

 juice, sweet and cooling, is recommended as being very 

 salutary, and particularly wholesome. Another plant, 

 nearly allied, often seen in gardens, which bears a differ- 

 ent fruit, known by the name of Citron Melon, has a 

 tough, firm rind, which is used for making preserves. 

 12* 



