CHAPTER III 



SQUASHES AND PUMPKINS 



Although several earlier writers referred to a few 

 varieties of Cucurbita, the first comprehensive publica- 

 tion dealing with a discussion of varieties was the 

 " Description des Plantes Potageres " by Vilmorin- 

 Andrieux et Cie, in 1856. This was revised once in 

 1883 and again in 1909, in neither edition of which was 

 there any classification used. In 1863 Fearing Burr, Jr., 

 published his " Field and Garden Vegetables of America," 

 which was almost entirely devoted to the discussion of 

 varieties. It was not until 1887, however, that the first 

 and only horticultural classification based on plant char- 

 acters of the varieties of Cucurbita maxima, C. Pepo, 

 and C. moschata was made. This materialized after 

 several years trials by Sturtevant and Goff, early 

 investigators at this Station. In their work the bases 

 for separation were leaf shape, degree of stem groov- 

 ing and expansion at the base, and fruit shape. Dur- 

 ing the first 30 years in the development of the Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Stations, a portion of the time 

 was devoted to variety trials of vegetables; and, as 

 a result, a great many brief and tabulated accounts 

 of variety trials were included in the publications 

 issued from the various stations. In 1927 Castetter 

 and Erwin (33) grouped all varieties grown in the 

 United States as either pumpkins or squashes. Pump- 

 kins, in their arrangement, included the varieties of 

 Cucurbita Pepo and C. moschata, each of which 

 was further divided into horticultural type groups, 

 namely, Connecticut Field, Cheese, Cushaw, Fordhook, 

 Patty Pan, Crookneck and Vegetable Marrow; while 

 the squashes included all varieties of C. maxima which 

 were similarly assigned as belonging to Banana, Hub- 

 bard, Turban or Mammoth groups. Except for an 

 account of Australian varieties written by Darragh in 

 1932, the foregoing brief review covers the important 

 literature relating to varieties of Cucurbita. 



CUCURBITA MAXIMA 

 The indiscriminate use cf the words squash and 

 pumpkin by early authors as well as the more modern 

 writers, as noted in the first chapter, has resulted in 

 considerable confusion to horticulturists. Not only has 

 this situation been a source of misunderstanding to 

 present day gardeners and seedsmen but to the historians 

 and early explorers, the latter often having used names 

 which could have been applied to melons, cucumbers, 

 gourds, or the three economic species of Cucurbita. 

 At the present time squash is a name applied to certain 

 varieties of all three species but more specifically to most 

 varieties of C. maxima and the summer and early fall 

 varieties of C. Pepo. Pumpkin is used to denote the 

 long keeping varieties of C. Pepo, most varieties of 

 C. moschata and an occasional sort of C. maxima. 



The use of these terms is in many cases exactly reversed 

 in other areas. 



Of the three species to be discussed in this chapter, 

 Cucurbita maxima represents the most modern intro- 

 duction in the history of our agriculture, since the earliest 

 records concern C. Pepo and C. moschata. The 

 varieties of C. maxima are now believed to have 

 originated in South America, probably Peru or Chili. 

 The first authentic reports of this sort among our early 

 colonists are those of Acorn, probably a turban sort, 

 listed by Russell in 1827, and Valparaiso, listed by 

 Thorburn in 1828. Although there is some evidence to 

 indicate the existence of the forerunner of Hubbard in 

 1798 in Marblehead, Massachusetts, the several versions 

 of Hubbard*s origin render this theory somewhat 

 dubious. About 1830 two other types, the French 

 Turban and the Autumnal Marrow, were known to have 

 existed; and shortly afterwards the Mammoth and a 

 sort called Cocoa-nut were known. About 1842, the 

 squash which was later to be known as the Hubbard 

 was brought to the attention of James J. H. Gregory, 

 a prominent and successful market gardener of Marble- 

 head, Massachusetts, and it was due to the public interest 

 in this variety that Mr. Gregory embarked upon the 

 career of a seedsman, a vocation for which he has long 

 been known. The period from 1860 to 1880 saw little 

 increase in new varieties, although at this time Marble- 

 head and American Turban were introduced. From 1880 

 to 1890 the greatest activity in the introduction of new 

 winter squash varieties was recorded when some 20 dis- 

 tinct sorts were brought forth. Many of these fell by the 

 wayside before 1910, after which such varieties as Blue 

 Hubbard, Quality, Golden Delicious, Buttercup and 

 Brighton were developed. 



The nature and use of the varieties in this group is 

 exceedingly diverse. The fruits range in size from the 

 very small Buttercup to the enormous Mammoth, and 

 likewise exhibit similar diversity in plant growth, as 

 exemplified by the bush-like nature of the Tree squash 

 in comparison to the exceedingly vigorous 25 to 30 foot 

 runners produced by Queensland Blue and others of the 

 Australian group. The maximas include varieties adapted 

 for different uses. Hubbard and Delicious represent 

 the group especially good for baking, Boston Marrow, 

 Golden Delicious and Etampes for the manufacture of 

 pie stock, while Mammoth is considered best for stock 

 food and exhibition purposes. 



Fifty-two distinct sorts are to be discussed in this 

 publication. A great many more names are included, 

 most of which are either synonyms or names of obscure 

 varieties about which available information is exceed- 

 ingly meager. For the most part, varieties of other 

 countries are not treated other than to cite references 

 which include a discussion of them. 



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