The Florida agriculturist., 1889-01-23

CIOH WlUll, W6to III jill pfODdDlllIy Tile IlclIIl
cause. From this introduction it spread
out over.the lower South however, and
is still with us sparingly cultivated here
and there In the regions near the coast.
One meets. with it occasionally about
Mobile (both varieties as pointed out in
the fOregoing), though the white-fruited
variety is most common. 1t now sails
under various popular names, as the gar
den mango, the vegetable pear, and the
Mexican squash, and within the last year
or SO we have heard it called the Califor-
MIA squash. Mexican squash appears to
be the name by which it is most widely
known. One never hears it called by the
original popular name of Chocho, though
since the introduction was from Central
America, Chocho is undoubtedly the pop
ular name by which it ought to go. On
account of being a conspicuous product
of Mexico, Mexican Squash" might seem
to carry with it something of prOpriety
as q name but for the fact that it isnot
squash at all, and has no kind OF botani-
cal relationship with the plants to which
the squash belongs. But, of course, our
masses don't stand much on such
questions as this in their adoption of a
name. 44
latitude of Mobile, under proper manage
ment, and we have lately learned some
thing in it's favor here not generally
known. The general understanding
makes it an annual and presumes that it
must be started every spring by planting
the fruit, as already mentioned, but such
is not the case. Mr.. VIM. T. Holland, OF
Mobile, has in the garden of his country
place over the bay, at Montrose, q Chocho
that has been growing right along
through several years without renewal.
Just before the time of frost, in fall, Mr.
Holland cuts off the vine and covers the
roots with litter and earth sufficiently to
protect it against freezing. Early in
spring it comes up anew from the pro-
tected root and at once grows off with
more vigOr than would be the case with
plant started from a planted fruit. How
long it will SO live is not yet known, but
the probability is, Judging from present
appearances, that it will remain aregular
perennial SO long as protected from the
frost. Such is Mr.. Hollands opinion.
AS must be seen this circumstance at
taches to it q new value of most decided
Importance.
We we're at the Montrose wharf last
October when Mr. Holland shipped the
product of his one vine over to Mobile.
We did not count to ascertain the num-
Der of ''squashes," though there must
have been at least two hundred of them
there was an ordinary jute corn sack en-
tirely full. They were of the white variety.
The Chocho, for the best results, requires
q deeply prepared and very rich soil.
Well rotted stable manure appears to suit
it better than anything else. Plant the
fruit early in the spring, placing it on it's
side and covering it slightly with soil.
To guard against injury from light and
sunshine place a few inches of litter, as
leaves or straw, over the soil. The litter
will not at all interfere with the growth,
as the vines will promptly push themselves
up through it. The vine will do best trel-
Used up little from the ground. Mr.. D.
Redmond, of Florida, recommends a slOp-
ing, SLATED platform something like low
arbor for the Scuppernong grape, only
inclined, say, twenty five or thirty degrees,
constructed of any cheap and handy
stuff. Where a person does not feel will
ing to go to as much trouble as this, a
little brush laid on the ground for the vines
to run over will answer very well--the on
ly disadvantage attaching to the brush
support will be found in the difficulty of
removing the weeds and grass springing
up through it. While these might not
particularly iniure the plant, they would
look more littery and slouchy than would
be pleasing to the sight of a neat garden
er The fruit ripens well together about
the last of September, and should be
pathered as soon as ripe as, If left long