crops 75 



dark green, occasionally with lighter stripes. The ripe fruit 

 is deep orange in colour externally and the pulp inside in 

 which the seeds are imbedded is scarlet. This fruit is largely 

 used as a vegetable especially when tender and unripe. 



BITTER-GOURD OR CARTLLA FRUIT. 



(Momordica charantia.) 



Tamil .,. ... Pavakkai. 



Telugu Kakarakaya. 



Malayalam Kaippakka. 



The fruits are slightly bitter and are largely used in 

 making curries. There are several cultivated forms which 

 differ in size and colour of the fruit : some forms have long 

 warty fruits varying in length from 4 inches to 12 inches 

 while others produce small fruits varying from £ to 1 inch. 

 Colour varies from light to dark green. The fruit is supposed 

 to be a good tonic and stomachic. 



CALABASH OR CALABASH-CUCUMBER. 



(Lagenaria vulgaris.') 



Tamil Sorakkai. 



Telugu Sorakaya. 



Malayalam Churaka. 



An exotic but now largely cultivated in India. Unlike 

 the other gourds this has white flowers. The unripe fruits, 

 just before the outer skin becomes thick, form a good veget- 

 able if seasoned. When fully ripe the rind of the fruit 

 becomes very hard and woody and then it makes an excellent 

 vessel or flask. 



ASH-GOURD OR ASH-PUMPKIN. 



{Benincasa cerifera.) 



Tamil Kalvana pushini. 



Telugu Budutha gummidi 



or Pendli gum- 

 midi. 



Malayalam Kumbalam. 



This is another gourd very widely cultivated all over 

 India. The fruits are usually large (1 to l£ feet long), up 

 to 25 lb. in weight, smooth but covered with whitish bloom. 



