CUCURBIT ACE;*:. 
133 
II JIB. Cultivated. 
F L. Alter the May and October rains. 
The Musk- Melon thrives best in dry districts, and in a 
good soil. In such situations it comes to great perfection, 
requiring very little cultivation. It is supposed to have 
been originally a native of Asia, and to have been culti- 
vated from time immemorial. 
The flesh of the Melon, when ripe, and of a good des- 
cription, is cooling and refreshing, and promotes the eva- 
cuations. The pulp is applied externally as a cooling 
application to inflamed surfaces. There are some, 
whose digestion is impaired, with whom this fruit does 
not agree. They find it heavy, indigestible, and occa- 
sionally apt to excite fever. This is owing cither to 
a peculiar idiosyncrasy, or to the bad quality of the fruit. 
It usually proves grateful to the taste, and easily digested. 
To obviate the apprehended bad effects, some eat the fruit 
with salt : whereas others sprinkle it with sugar, thus 
giving “ sweets to the sweet.” I may add that an emul- 
sion may be prepared from the recent seeds, which is 
considered to be soothing and pectoral. 
2. Cucumis sativus. Cucumber. 
Stem scabrous cirrhiferous, leaves cordate ob- 
scurely 5-lobed, flowers shortly peduncled sub- 
ternate rather large, tube of the calyx tubuloso- 
campanulate, limb patent deflected, petals some- 
what acute, fruit oblong triquetrous. 
II A B. Cultivated. 
F L. Throughout the year. 
This species also came originally from Asia. The fruit 
is -either used crude as a sallad, or it is boiled and added 
to stews. In the crude state it is found to be cooling and 
laxative. It is sometimes preserved in salt, with the 
addition of spices. Cucumbers prepared in this manner 
are imported into England from Russia, and occasionally 
find their way to Jamaica. 
3. Cucumis anguria. Wild Cucumber. 
Very hirsute, stem humifuse angulated cirrhi- 
ferous, leaves cordate palmato-sinuated 3-l-or-5- 
