314 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY 
reported for some individuals. The oil obtained from the 
fruit is in as common use in Mediterranean countries as 
butter and lard in the United States. The products 
that reach this country are olive-oil and pickled olives; 
but dried olives also are much used in certain olive-grow- 
ing regions. 
Gourp FRuITs.—The tropical and subtropical family 
(Cucurlitacer) that is popularly called the Gourd Family 
contains numerous forms that are used by tropical peoples 
not only as food, but also.in the manufacture of various 
utensils. The fruit is characterized by its very large size 
and hard rind, and the flesh within is often cdible. The 
best-known edible forms in the United States are as fol- 
lows: 
Watermelon is a native of tropical Africa, and has been 
cultivated from the most ancient times. There is no coun- 
try where watermelon culture is conducted on so extensive 
a scale as in the United States. The chief commercial sup- 
ply comes from the Southern States, the so-called Georgia 
watermelon being the best-known varicty; but a very large 
melon industry has been developed also in Colorado. 
Muskmelons all belong to a single species (Cucumis 
Melo), which is native to the warmer parts of. Asia, but is 
now cultivated all over the world. It is said that one-half 
of the muskmelon crop is grown in New Jersey; but in 
the western markets Michigan and Colorado are very im- 
portant centers. The two general types of muskmelons 
are the furrowed type, with hard rinds, known as canta- 
loupes; and the netted type, with softer rinds, known as 
nutmeg melons. Two important varieties of nutmeg mel- 
ons have been developed recently: the Osage melon, from 
southwestern Michigan; and the Rocky Ford melon, from 
Colorado. 
Cucumbers belong to the same genus as muskmelons, 
and are derived from a species (Cucumis sativus) native to 
