128 GARDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



Cucumis utilissimus. 



Kukree. 



A bright-red prickly Gourd of the size and form of an ostrich 

 egg. When young of a cylindrical form, and in that state eaten 

 much by Europeans in the North-West Provinces, in lieu of 

 Cucumbers, being in season long before that vegetable, but not 

 to be compared with it in flavour. 



The seed is sown in March there, and the vegetable is in use 

 in the Hot season. 



Cucurbita Melopepo. 

 SQUASH. 



The name Squash is given in America to two or three kinds 

 of Gourd of the same description as the Vegetable Marrow. 



1. One is called the Lima or Cocoanut Squash, from its 

 resemblance in shape and size to a Cocoanut. 



2. Another is called the Marrow or Scallop Squash, from its 

 similarity in shape to the shell which bears that name. 



A writer in the ' Gardeners' Chronicle ' says : " Squashes are 

 extensively grown in America. The seeds are either set in 

 a hollow basin, one or two in a place, or on hills. They are 

 of various kinds and qualities, and are boiled green like the 

 Vegetable Marrow, or mashed like the Turnip with milk and 

 pepper and salt. When ripe they are made into pies in the 

 same manner as Pumpkins. Some are gathered in France 

 when of the size of an egg, boiled whole in salt and water, laid 

 upon toast, and eaten as Asparagus." * 



In Lower Bengal the seeds should be sown in the open ground 

 about the end of October. The plants will require a large 

 space of ground to trail over, so select a spot where they may 

 have room for that purpose. 



The best plan, then, is to dig holes in the earth about sixteen 

 inches wide and as many deep. Fill these with richly-manured 

 soil, and sow in each two or three seeds. If more than one 

 germinate! pull all but one up. 



When the plants have formed about four of their rough 

 leaves they will, almost to a certainty, become attacked by 

 the red-beetle mentioned as so injurious to the Cucumber. The 

 * ( Gardeners' Chronicle,' January, 1862. 



