UTILIZATION AND COMPOSITION OK ORIENTAL VEGETABLES 35 
Chinese Preserving Melon {Benincasa cerifera). (Fig. .">1 ) 
Chinese name: Dung-kwa 
Japanese name : Togwa 
Shape: Spherical to long-oblong. 
Size: One to four feet long; 10 to K'> inches in diameter. 
Color: Kind, green, thick, may or may not be powdered with white bloom; 
flesh, white with white pithy center. 
Seed: Small, light straw or buff color. 
The Chinese preserving melon is an oriental cucurbit which grows 
very large, varying in weight from 30 to 40 pounds. The outstand- 
ing feature of the melon is its wonderful keeping quality when fully 
Figure 30. — Cowpeas 
matured. It will remain sound for G to 1*2 months if it is not in- 
jured. The melon is retailed by the pound, any quantity desired be- 
ing cut off when purchased. Like other cucurbitaceous vegetables, 
the Chinese preserving melon is also placed on the market in an im- 
mature state, and it is then called Zit-kwa. 
To make soup. — Scrape skin from one small, tender melon (iy 2 
to 3 pounds) : cut melon in 1%-inch squares one-half inch thick. Slice 
thinly one-half pound lean pork and mix with 1 teaspoon cornstarch, 
a little pepper, and some soy sauce. Have at hand a heated pot 
containing l 1 /? teaspoons peanut oil, a little garlic, and one-half 
