660 Kitchen Garden Esculents of American Origin. [July, 
and the frequent descriptions and mention@by botanists and trav- 
elers after the discovery of America. 
Naudin, the authority on this genus, refers all the forms of the 
cultivated pumpkins and squashes to four species, Cucurbita max- 
ima, C. pepo, C. moschata and C. melanosperma. The three first 
forms of these are in French culture, and Vilmorin describes 
thirty-two varieties! Of the eighteen varieties under C. maxima, 
eight have their American origin indicated by name or statement ; 
of the five varieties under C moschata, two have American 
names; of the nine varieties under C. pepo, three have an Ameri- 
can origin indicated by name. The historical record does not 
seem to change this numeration in such a way as to indicate that C. 
maxima is more native to Europe than is C. pepo. We may, 
however, trace the appearance of such forms of this vegetable as 
we have data for, and we shall find that America has contributed 
very largely to the varieties, 
The word pumpkin seems to have been transferred to our 
cucurbits from the Greek pepon, “a gourd or melon not eaten 
till quite ripe,” Aristoteles,? or the Latin pepo, “ a species of large 
melon or pumpkin, Pliny? but the word does not occur in Scrip- 
tores Rei Rusticz veteres Latini of Gesner, which indicates how 
little known was the pepo in Italy where now the pumpkin is so 
common, and where it so early appeared after the discovery of 
America. The word squash seems to have been derived from the 
-pent, even, says our chronicler, occasionally nine feet long. He evidently refers 
~ next to the Benincasa, which he has confounded with the gourd, for he says it is 
~ 
covered with a white bloom, especially as it grows large. There is not a word here 
to indicate a pumpkin of any kind; the whole wording may apply to Lagenaria 
vulgaris in its varieties, except the last, which fit Benincasa cerifera. To one who 
hand, the references of our authors will be seen to apply very closely to the Lagen- 
aria varieties figured therein; sufficiently so for a clear identification, taken with the 
context; and to apply sof af a// to any of the Cucurbita varieties therein figured and 
described under Cucurbita maxima, 
While upon Latin authors we will take occasion to note that neither Columella 
nor Palladius reckon the Saseolus or phaseolus, which some writers have taken to 
kidney-beans, among garden plants, but class with field crops, and Virgil classes 
with the vetch as a cheap food. The directions for planting are to sow the seed, six 
pecks per acre, in the autumn, Hence their Jaseolus must have been a hardier plant 
than our kidney-bean, and mot our bean. Apicius’ receipt for cooking and Pliny’s 
mention would apply equally well to a Dolichos as to a Phaseolus, 
Les Pl. Pot., 171-186. 
Liddell and Scott’s Greek Dict. 
’ , 
2 
-T Andrews’ Lat. Lex 
