176 HISTORY OF FRUITS. 



these busy insects could not collect the limpid treasure 

 that floats around the style without resting thereon, when 

 the prolific powder was taken from their sides, and de- 

 tained by the glutinous moisture of the stigma. This 

 operation was no sooner finished, than the calyx began to 

 wither and wreath itself around the stigma, as if to pro- 

 tect it from other intruders. 



In the garden of Dr. Crombey at Greenwich, we 

 observed that where the vegetable marrow and cucumbers 

 were growing on the same bed promiscuously, nearly 

 one half of the former fruit had been impregnated by the 

 pollen of the latter, and that it had so changed the nature 

 of the fruit of the vegetable marrow, that it was scarcely 

 to be distinguished from the cucumbers. On some of the 

 vines we found perfect vegetable marrow, and other fruit 

 between the two, which to us appears a convincing proof 

 that the farina affects the fruit it inoculates, as well as the 

 seed it impregnates. May not this account for the peach- 

 tree often producing nectarines on the same branch ? 



We found the fruit of the vegetable marrow more 

 porous than the flesh of either the cucumber or pumpkin, 

 and when cut in slices like muffins, and fried in butter or 

 oil, and served on rashers of bacon, it made an agreeable 

 dish ; we also admired it when stewed as cucumbers, but 

 when plain boiled we found it rather insipid. 



The great advantage of this vegetable is, that it is most 

 productive in those hot summers when most other escu- 

 lent vegetation is burnt up by heat. 



