880 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



throughout temperate and tropical countries. The finest are 

 said to be the melons of Bokhara. The melon is supposed 

 to have been first introduced from Egypt to Rome, from 

 thence to France in 1495, and after that to England. 



Water Melon (Cucumis Citrullns). This is extensively 

 grown in hot dry countries for its refreshing juice. It is not 

 much cultivated in this country, but may sometimes be seen 

 in the fruit shops, being imported from Spain and Portugal. 

 It is supposed to be the " melons" of Egypt, the loss of which 

 in the Avilderness the Israelites regretted. 



Pumpkin Gourd (Cucurbita Pepo). Extensively cul- 

 tivated as a culinary vegetable. 



Vegetable Marrow {Cucurhita ovifera). Supposed to be a 

 native of Persia. It is an excellent culinary vegetable. 



Melon Pumpkin {Cucurhita maxima). The largest fruit of 

 the Gourd family, or of any other, some having been grown 

 in this country weighing not less than from 200 to 240 

 pounds, and measuring from 6 to near 8 feet in circumference. 

 Many other varieties of the Gourd tribe are cultivated for 

 food throughout warm countries, and the hard rinds of the 

 fruits are converted into household bowls, dishes, &c. Amongst 

 the most remarkable may be mentioned the Bottle Gourd 

 i^Lagenaria vulgaris)^ which grows abundantly in Egypt and 

 Arabia, and has been introduced into the West Indies. Its 

 fruit, which is sometimes nearly 6 feet long, is shaped like a 

 bottle, and often used as such. The Club Gourd is a variety 

 of this, but is more tapering, in the form of a club. 



Choco {^Sechium edule). A common plant, cultivated in 

 tropical America and the West Indies, for the sake of its 

 fruit, which is about 4 inches in length, 3 inches in dia- 

 meter, of a green colour, and furrowed of a delicate white 

 inside ; it is used as a vegetable. 



Colocynth (Cucumis Colocynthus). A native of Palestine, 

 and some parts of North Africa. The fruit is about the size 

 of an orange, and may frequently be seen in show bottles in 

 druggists' shop-windows. It is used in medicine. The soft 



