APPENDIX 

 METHODS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



The major descriptions of these crops are based upon 

 data very largely obtained from extensive variety trials 

 at Geneva during the past five years. The observations 

 of Sturtevant and Goff (50) were of considerable value, 

 especially in relation to varieties the seed of which is 

 no longer obtainable. Numerous visits to seedsmen's 

 trial grounds afforded an opportunity not only to see 

 varieties grown under varying conditions but also to 

 examine trial ground records and type books not other- 

 wise obtainable. 



All crops were grown according to the usual com- 

 mercial practice, although in most instances the use of 

 drill rows instead of hill planting enabled individual 

 plants to develop in a more normal manner and afforded 

 greater opportunity for the note taker to observe plant 

 characteristics. Quantitative characters such as length 

 of vine, cotyledon, leaf and fruit, size of flower, weight of 

 fruit, etc., were carefully measured. Where significant 

 differences were found classes (such as large, small, long, 

 short, etc.) were formed and the relative value of each 

 class was thus more accurately stated. The terms 

 narrow, broad, moderately broad, etc., referring to 

 seeds are descriptive of the relative proportion rather 

 than the actual measurement, in other words a seed 

 nearly as long as broad is called broad, while a seed of 

 equal width but three times as long is called narrow. 



The extreme sensitiveness of Cucurbit aceae to 

 weather conditions has very largely prevented the 

 designation of definite maturity dates for these crops. 

 The number of days to maturity for squashes and 

 pumpkins, the least variable from season to season, was 

 determined by individual judgment after such factors 

 as skin color, shell hardness and condition of the vine 

 were taken into consideration. Such variation was 

 found from year to year in the maturity of muskmelons 

 (as determined by degree of stem slip and netting, skin 

 color, etc.) that for the purpose of this publication the 

 varieties are classified as very early, early, moderately 

 early, midseason, moderately late and late, and their 

 season compared with that of well known or allied 

 varieties. 



In order to compile material on the histories of the 

 varieties, it has been necessary to seek information from 

 a large number of individuals. This information has 

 been freely forthcoming and has greatly facilitated the 

 work. The authors are indebted to the Associated Seed 

 Growers, New Haven, Connecticut, Jerome B. Rice Seed 

 Co., Cambridge, N. Y., Joseph Harris Co., Coldwater, 

 N. Y., F. H. Woodruff Seed Co., Milford, Conn., J. C. 

 Robinson Seed Co., Waterloo, Nebraska, D. Landreth 

 Seed Co., Bristol, Pa., the Ferry-Morse Seed Co., 

 Detroit, Michigan and many others, who have cooperated 

 to the fullest extent in furnishing information and 

 seed for trial. 



The authors extend sincere thanks to individuals in 

 the above mentioned organizations, to many others of 

 the seed trade and to co-workers of other educational 

 and experimental institutions who remain unnamed 

 because of lack of space. 



GLOSSARY 



Acorn The more or less prominent, often protuberant 



irregular formation at the apex of the fruit of 



Turban squashes. 



Apical The portion at the distal end; opposite the base. 



Aromatic Possessed of spicy fragrance. 



Auricle The lobe-like portion of the leaf blade, at or near 



the base. 

 Basal The portion at the proximal end; opposite the apex 



or tip. 

 Blistered The presence of small eruptions and depressions 



over the surface of the leaf or fruit. 

 Bumpy When the surface of the fruit is uneven; not 



definitely ribbed and furrowed. 

 Button The small protuberance at the blossom end of 



the fruit; the fleshy style. 

 Cleft When the sinus extends half way or (somewhat 



more) to the base or midrib and either the sinus 



or the lobe is narrow or acute. 

 Color Given in common color terms with the approxi- 

 mate Ridgeway term in parenthesis. 



Cordate Heart-shaped. 



Crumpled When blistered formations are large, and excessive 



development of folds is present. 



Cylindrical Elongated, with the cross-section circular. 



Dentate Margin with teeth equal-sided, projecting at 



right angles to the blade. 

 Denticulate. . . . Minutely toothed; finely dentate. 



Entire Margin without divisions, lobes or teeth. 



Face The broad side of the seed. 



Falcate-fusiform. Curved spindle-shape. 



Frilled When the border of the leaf is wavy to the 



horizontal. 



Furrows Depressions between the ribs. 



Fusiform Spindle-shaped; thickest at the medial and more 



or less tapering towards both ends. 



Granular When the flesh is coarse and mealy; often gritty. 



Incised When the margin is cut irregularly and sharply. 



Insipid When the flesh of a fruit is tasteless; flat. 



Interstice The area within the mesh of the cork-like netting. 



Lacerate Deeply and irregularly cut along the margin. 



Lobed When the sinus extends not more than half way 



to the base or midrib and either the sinus or lobe 



is rounded. 



Medial The center-most portion. 



Musky When the odor of the melon is more or less strong 



and pungent. 

 Nauseous When the odor or taste of a fruit is particularly 



pungent, musky or overly sweet. 

 Oblate Distinctly flattened at the ends; compressed 



globose. 

 Oblong Considerably longer than broad, with nearly 



parallel sides. 

 Obpyriform. . . . Inversely pear-shaped; the larger end at the base. 



Ovate Shaped like an egg, the broader portion at the base. 



Parted When the sinus reaches almost but not quite to 



the base or midrib. 



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