ANALYSES OF THE SQUASH. 
295 
II. THE SQUASH TRIBE. 
1. Analyses of two varieties of Squash and one of Pumpkin. 
PROPORTIONS. 
Per centum 
1. 
Vegetable Marrow, Boston Marrow (PI. 4, 
%• 1), 
1000-000 
grs. 
a 
• 
i 
■ 
■ 
i 
■ 
- 
- 
124-905 
12-490 
Water ------ 
875-095 
Ash ...... 
- 
7-220 
0-722 
2. 
Custard squash (PI. 6, fig. 1) 
- 
- 
1000-000 
grs. 
Dry . 
- 
- 
76-760 
Water . 
- 
- 
923-240 
92-320 
Ash 
- 
- 
4-875 
0-487 
3. 
Pumpkin ------ 
1000-000 
grs. 
Dry . 
- 
- 
70-100 
Water - . 
- 
- 
929-900 
92-990 
Ash . 
- 
- 
5-490 
0-549 
The amount of water in the three foregoing vegetables, as will be seen, is large, a fact 
with which all who observe are familiar. The amount of ash is small; and its constitu¬ 
tion is not very unlike that of the cereals and of the edible tuberous plants, except that 
soda is in a great excess over the potash, if a single analysis is sufficient for establishing 
a fact. 
The squash and the pumpkin, like all other domesticated plants, form numerous varie¬ 
ties, which differ in external form and color; and what is far more interesting, is their 
differences in composition also; differences, which, though they may not separate the 
varieties far from each other, yet are so considerable that analysis readily discovers the fact. 
Each seems to possess its own powers of appropriating nutriment, in a manner which has 
been already pointed out in regard to varieties of maize growing upon the same ear. This fact 
may have been acknowledged in some instances, yet I am not aware that it has been very 
distinctly asserted before, and upon a sufficient authority, or based upon well ascertained 
facts. Neither has it been stated that a great similarity exists between the edible tubers, 
the cereals, and the esculents, those which are so highly esteemed and in almost universal 
use. 
