GOURDS IN THE GARDEN, 



but they do not fruit so quickly, and in 

 our climate early fruiting is a great ad- 

 vantage. 



Allied to the true Gourds 



GoU GiL U s" der are otner groups that are 

 well adapted by their bright 

 and attractive fruits, often of quaint 

 shape, to give interest and novelty 

 among climbers under glass. Especially 

 is this the case where the plants have a 

 free run under the roof of an airy 

 stove-house. In this way the long 

 scarlet fruits of the Indian Snake- 

 Gourd, the vivid spreading fruits of 

 Momordica Charantia and others of 

 the same genus, the white marrow- 

 like Gourds of Be7iincasa cerifera^ 

 and the yellow globe-like fruits of 

 the Colocynth [Citrullus colocynthis) 

 may all be used to vary and enrich 

 the list of plants commonly grown 

 in such a house. In the greenhouse 

 also such plants as Coccinia indica, 

 Bryonopsis laciniosa erythrocarpa, 

 and Lagenaria vulgaris in many 

 forms, give both shade and beauty; 

 whilst in the smallest house Momor- 

 dica Balsatnina and Cyclanthera ex- 

 plodens will weave graceful festood* 

 of leaf, studded over with quaintly 

 pretty fruits. The culture of these 

 plants is as for other indoor climbers — 

 light rich soil and io-inch pots being 

 all they need, with occasional water- 

 ings of weak manure. Hand fertilizing 

 of female flowers (especially in dull 

 weather) will secure fruits where they 

 are best seen. 



Little use is made of Gourds, 

 other than the Vegetable 

 Marrow, in this country. None the less 



kinds such as Go/den Crook?ieck, Golden 

 Bus/i, and the newer American Squashes, 

 are most useful for mid and late winter 

 use and their keeping qualities excellent. 

 The Ohio Squash keeps perfectly for six 

 or eight months after cutting, with flesh 

 firm and delicate, and in every way 

 superior to the older Pumpkins. This 

 would form a good addition to our winter 

 vegetables. In the United States and 



Value as Food. 



STORING -WINTER GOURDS IN SURREY. 



southern Europe theseand other Gourds 

 are much used in winter for soups, pu- 

 rees, and (in the States) for "pies." 

 Gardeners would find them useful and 

 profitable, easily grown, and stored for 

 the winter in an airy frost-proof room. 

 There are, of course, Gourds quite unfit 

 for food, such as the Bottle Gourds 

 (Lagenarid) and their varieties, which 

 are both narcotic and purging. The best 



