CHAPTER XIII 



VEGETABLES WITH EDIBLE FRUITS— THE 

 CUCURBITS 



A FRUIT is a direct product of a flower. Many of the 

 crops that we class as vegetables are really fruits. Of such 

 are those discussed in this chapter, which are frequently 

 called cucurbits because they belong to the Cucurbitacese 

 or squash family. These are the muskmelon and cu- 

 cumber, belonging to the genus Cucumis ; the watermelon, 

 of the genus Citrullus ; the squash and pumpkin, of the 

 genus Cucurbita ; and the chayote, belonging to the genus 

 Sechium. They are all warm-country plants, and will not 

 withstand frost. The seeds are large and flat and ger- 

 minate quickly. 



CANTALOUPE 



The muskmelon, usually called cantaloupe in the south- 

 ern United States, is grown in most subtropical countries, 

 and acclimated varieties are cultivated in the East and 

 West Indies, and in other tropical lands. The melon 

 succeeds very well in dry climates with irrigation. The 

 cultivated melons came from South Asia, but many 

 varieties have originated in the United States, where the 

 muskmelon is now a staple crop from Florida to Illinois 

 and Colorado. 



151 



