LUTHER BURBANK 



The common cucumber may be crossed with 

 the variety known as the Russian cucumber, but 

 in general this plant proves its individuality by 

 refusing to hybridize with its not very distant 

 relatives, such as the melons. But the other 

 members of the family hybridize readily. Indeed 

 there is so little difficulty in crossing them, that it 

 is necessary to plant the different species in widely 

 separated rows to prevent accidental hybridization 

 through the agency of the bees. 



With the cucumber there is no such difficulty. 

 In our experience it refuses to hybridize with other 

 melons. Doubtless because of its lack of affinity 

 for other species, the cucumber is relatively easy 

 to fix as to new varieties, differing very markedly 

 in that respect from the squashes and gourds. 



The so-called snake cucumber is in reality a 

 muskmelon. It will cross readily with the other 

 varieties of muskmelon. The product, however, is 

 inferior, considered either as a cucumber or as a 

 melon. The banana melon is probably a cross 

 between the snake cucumber and some other 

 muskmelon; or it may have originated from the 

 same source as the snake cucumber itself. 



The banana melon has been improved by 

 selection until in some varieties it is a fairly good 

 melon, although generally lacking the high flavor 

 of the cantaloupe and other specialized musk- 



[44] 



