I B. Z. 
Of the Hiftory of Plants. 
9 1 3 
The Dcfcription. 
i nr He Gourd bringeth forth very long ftalkes as be thofe of the Vine, cornered and par- 
I ted into diuers branches, which with his clafping tendrels taketh hold and dyraeth 
vpon filch things as Hand neere vnto it : the leaues be very great, broad and il .ame 
pointed almoft as great as thofe of the Clot-Burre, but fofter,and fomewhatcouefed as it were 
with a white freefe, as bealfo the ftalkes and branches, like thofe ofthe mariftr Mallovvithe Wes 
e white and grow forth from the bofome ofthe leaues: in their places come vp the fruit which 
are not all of one fafhion, for oftentimes they haue the forme of flagons or bottles, with a great 
arge elly and a ftnallnecke. The Gourd (faith Pliny, Itb.ig. cap.*,,) groweth into any forme or 
talhion that you would haue it, either like vnto a wreathed Dragon, the leg of a man, or any other 
lhape, according to the mould wherein it is put whileftit is young : being buffered toclime vpon 
any Arbour where the fruit may hang, it hath beene feene to be nine foot long, by reafon of bis 
grea. weight which hath llretched it outto the length. Therindewhen itis ripe is verie hard 
wooddy, and ofa fellow colour: the meate or inward pulpe is white, the feed Jong, flat, poin- 
tafte * ^ 1C ^ roa< ^ below, with two peakes ftanding out like homes, white within, and fweet in 
- / .i TllC ^f° nd differeth not from the precedent in ftalkes, leaues, or floures : the fruit hereof 
is tor the tnoft part fafhioned like a bottle or flagon , wherein efpecially confifteth the difference.' 
t Cucurbit a anguwa. 
Snakes Gourd. 
2 Cucurbit a lagenuria. 
Bottle Gourds. 
The Place. 
The Gourds are cherifhcd in the gardens of thefe cold regions rather for pleafure than for pro- 
fit : in the hot countries where they come to ripenefle there are fometimes eaten , but with final!! 
delight •, efpecially they are kept for the rindes, wherein they put Turpentine, Oyle,Hony,and al- 
fo feme them for pales to fetch water in, and many other the like vfes. 
The Time. 
They are planted in a bed of horfe-dung in April, euen as we haue taught in the planting of cu- 
cumbers : they flourifh in Iune and Iulv ; the fruit is ripe in the end of Auguft. 
The Names. 
The Gourd is called in Greeke ■. in Latine, Cucurbit a edulis , Cucurbit a fatiua : of Pliny ^ 
Cucurbit* 
