156 NOTES ON THE AGRICULTURE, 



and is grown on willow or on the kaoliang stalks bunched 

 4-6 together (See PL V, Figs. 5 and 7). In the early part 

 of the summer the young stems of the club-shaped gourd 

 growing in the ground are covered with earth in order to 

 receive the roots (See PI. V, Fig. 6). In this condition, as it 

 was explained by a Chinese gardener, the plants grow better. 



The cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) ( ^ Ul ) are grown 

 in N. Manchuria in two climbing varieties. One of a medium 

 size, green in colour, another has long green fruits (See PL I, 

 Fig. 2), 30-50 cm. in length (& ft Bi). 



Cucumbers are cultivated in narrow beds, 2 feet wide, 

 the plants about 1J feet apart in the row. They are planted 

 in the middle of May, the first fruits are gathered in the 

 beginning of Jul}'. In July the beds are banked; in August 

 the dried stems of cucumbers are taken away from the garden 

 and the Chinese cabbage is planted. Sometimes a second 

 crop of cucumbers are planted in the middle of July and the 

 fruits are gathered in the middle of September. In some 

 Chinese gardens the cucumbers are grown on kaoliang stalks 

 as is seen on PL VI, Figs. 5, 6 and 7, or with soja beans 

 (See PL VI, Fig. 4). The cucumbers are eaten in the raw 

 state, some are salted for winter, and from the young, small 

 fruits pickles are made. 



Water melojis (cucumis citrullus L.) (j5| HI). The water 

 melons in North Manchuria are cultivated in several varieties. 

 One kind is the oblong or the round kind with dark, green or 

 white skins, with white, yellow or red flesh and with seeds 

 of red, white, black and grey colour. The common ones are 

 the oblong dark water melons with yellow and red flesh. 



During the last 20 years some Eussian varieties of water 

 melons have been also introduced into Manchuria. 



In North Manchuria, as in the Southern part of the 

 country, the water melons are grown for fruit and for seeds, 

 which are eaten by the Chinese salted and roasted. 



Water melons are planted in rows, each plant about 3 

 feet apart in rows, and they are sold in the markets during 

 August and September. 



Melons are cultivated in two different kinds — the sweet 

 melon (Cucumis melo L.) ( SB" J3L ) and the vegetable melon 

 (2£ Hi, f& &). The sweet melons are represented here by 

 the following varieties : — 



1. — The oblong or round yellow melon of Eussian origin 

 20-40 cm. in length (ffi M tft HL). 2. — The oblong green 

 melon also of a Eussian origin. 3. — The Chinese melons 

 (-T *M ^ ffi &) (See PL III, Figs. 2 and 3) with the green 

 dark streaked skin, green or reddish flesh, 16-25 cm. in length 

 and 10-14 cm. in breadth. 4. — The yellow Chinese melon 



